Whisky review : Laphroaig cairdeas ''Origin'', bottled @ 51.2%

Whisky review : Laphroaig cairdeas ''Origin'', bottled @ 51.2%

-NAS
-Cask strength
-Un-chill filtering
-Between 13 and 21 yo apprently
-bottled 50-50 with new spirit matured 7y in Quarter casks. 

Colour: pale gold, medium bodied, medium legs.

Nose: Classic Laphroaig, ether, peat, medicinal oil, white ashes after a fire, very well seated in the glass, creamy and sweet notes, touches of fruits

Mouth: mix of soft ether and peat, juicy peat, with fruits notes. More caramel then the usual and some spices as well. However, it seemed to be flawed as the massive ABV tries to hide the low arrival. It develops well in the mouth after, yet the initial impact is a tad off.

Finish: ether, light sweet peat with ashes, lots of white ashes.

A- for taste. It's a good Lap for sure. However, flaws are preventing greatness here.
B for the price. 100$ is actually reasonable if not on a budget.
B+ for the presentation. I'm use to the white tubing...the green one looks just weird.

Whisky review : Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2006 bottled @ 50%

Whisky review : Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2006 bottled @ 50%

-Un-chill filtered
-Higher abv
-Yet another nice unpeated expression of B

Colour: light yellow straw, short legs, light bodied

Nose: light creamy fruits, barley sugars, rolls down to a more profound fruity expression, fresh, light, seems delicate yet very straightforward. Similar to the Bere but turns to a different sweet profile. A nice mouth watering malt.

Finish:  sticky, fruits, salted notes, lingers a little bit on fruits and creamy notes.

B++. When it comes down to the taste, it's pretty nice. A nice B to try and possibly to buy.
A- for the price. at 65$, it's easily accessible and good value for the money.
A for the presentation. Clear bottle with nice information, just what we need

Whisky review : SAQ Highland Whisky tasting event (October 3rd, 2013)

Whisky review : SAQ Highland Whisky tasting event (October 3rd, 2013)

(left to right)

- Benrinnes 23 years old
- Clynelish 2008
- Dalmore 18 years old
- Longmorn 16 years old
- Aberlour 12 years old

Whisky review : Benrinnes 23 years old bottled @ 58.8%

Whisky review : Benrinnes 23 years old bottled @ 58.8%

-1st Benrinnes
-Outrageously expensive
-Cask Strength

Colour: Dark mahogany, copper, oily, very dense.

Nose: Very thick caramel nose, Butter caramel arrival, touches of medicinal oil, band-aid,

Mouth: Thick butter caramel, spices, pine wood, medicinal, chewy, touches of leather, mineral. Does not need water, excellent spirit quality.

Finish: lingering mineral, leather, butter caramel notes. Very pleasant malt !

A for the taste. Thick, chewy, sweet. Excellent.
B+ for the presentation. Would be nice to know if this is or not un-chill filtered.
D for the price. 406,25$ (SAQ)....what more can I say ? Yes it is 23 years (from 1985)...but it stays out of reach for common whisky amateurs. 

Whisky review : Clynelish Bottled in 2008 Batch CLBR 171-3H bottled @ 46%

Whisky review : Clynelish Bottled in 2008 Batch CLBR 171-3H bottled @ 46%

-1st reviewed Clynelish

Colour: dark gold, light bodied

Nose: fresh fruits, coastal winds, barely sugar, yellow fruits, salt water, ripe fruits

Mouth: creamy fruits, mouth watering, light spices, very light sherry, lots of fruits.

Finish: long lingering creamy red fruits, touches of oakes

B for taste. It has an interesting flavour profile but...no wow effect...not a lot of effects anyway.
B for presentation. Sad brown looking bottling.
C for the price. at 139$ (SAQ) it's a complete rip off. Way too much for what it is.

Whisky review : Longmorn 16 years old, bottled @ 48%

Whisky review : Longmorn 16 years old, bottled @ 48%

-1st Longmorn
-48%

Colour: dark gold, medium bodied, a tad oily

Nose: very soft and shy nose, light yellow fruits, pear, creamy, fruity chewy paste

Mouth: tad crisp, more fresh yellow fruits, pear,butterscotch, touches of honey. Very light yet tingly. Nice malt indeed.

Finish: gentle fresh ripe fruits, sweet, honey

B for the taste
A for the presentation, great packaging and leather-looking band.
C for the price. For 100$ (SAQ) it's a bit overpriced compare to its suggested market retail price (76$). I wouldn't say avoid it, but taste prior to buy as this is not and entry level nor a good introductory whisky.

Whisky review : Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask, bottled @ 57%

Whisky review : Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask, bottled @ 57%

-Forgotten Kavalan !
-Cask strength
-Original colouring
-Non chill-filtered
-Outrageous price.

Colour: light gold, bright, and somewhat oily.

Nose: fresh crisp cask nose (light wood, sweet, vanilla), light coconut, apples, baked apples, light candies, very spirity by moment, creamy coconut, light hints of flat coca-cola.

Month: Boooooom ! sweet applely fresh wood, bourbon, tons of hot sweet chilies, chili dipped fruits (mostly apples), very dense and complex to say the least.Water : Nicer and quieter, sweet apples notes, lead, bitter notes and few spices. It's a good bourbon finish for sure.Yet...I wonder if the problem is not the spirit itself. I feel like the cask is of wonderful quality yet I not quite convinced of the same for the Kavalan single malt inside.

Finish: light very light...bourbon for sure, lingering bitter notes, fresh apples, oak.

A- for the taste. It's a good whisky for sure. However, I would suggest to actually put an age statement on it and maybe 10 years old would be great. As it stands, I'd say it's below 7 years old (3 to 4 maybe).
C+ for the price. The full bottle version costs 640RMB (107CAD), which is way too much for something like this. (especially considering I got the Arran Bourbon Cask - 10 years old - for 65$ at SAQ.....
A- for the presentation. Nice Wood tubing and clean label.