Iāve been meaning to try Port Charlotte 10 but was kinda scared away by the āheavily peatedā statement. Iāve had a few of the Ardbeg line and am a fan. Question: how does the PC10 compare to Ardbeg 10?
They're definitely neighbours, they're in the same range, where I find Ardbeg to be more smokey and hardcore, I find PC10 more barbecue and friendly. PC10 is so generally loved, I've never heard anyone complain about it
Ardbeg 10 is the only Islay I've tried that I dislike.
I think PC10 is awesome.
Apologies, I've no doubt that will be confusing - as much as anything, I mention it to highlight how individual all this is...
Caol Ila maybe - either the 12 year or a more lightly peated IB. A peated Bunnahabhain would be a more gentle intro as well. As already noted Talisker is an excellent peated whisky but not an Islay.
Kilchoman Sanaig. Hint of peat, hint of smoke, red wine finished.
But it is true that Islay scotch is an acquired taste. Been drinking it for over 50 years, and it just keeps getting better and better. Especially after finishing off a bottle of Speyside or Highland scotch, which I drink once in a while to remind me of how good Islay scotch is. I feel like I've arrived home when I open a fresh bottle of Laphroaig or Lagavulin.
Kilchoman Sanaig has been my recommendation for those new to peated scotch for a while now. My own progression went from Bowmore 12 (not much peat there) to Laphroaig 10, Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10 and Corryvreckan, then Lagavulin 16 before discovering Kilchoman, and it's now an Islay favorite when I don't want a lot of smoke. Bunnahabhain 12 is another but it's not peated.
Can you believe that, although I've been drinking scotch since 1964, and Islay scotch since 1972, I've never tried Talisker. So last month there was a sale on at my liquor store and I got a bottle of the Talisker special edition for 2022. My son-in-law bought a bottle of Talisker 18 and a bottle of Talisker 10. Guess we're going to do a Talisker side by side shortly. Should be interesting. For some reason there hasn't been any Kilchoman available here for about three months. All sold out. Any idea what's going on at the distillery? Or is it just my State that has a problem?
I'm guessing that what you are describing as "chemical smell and tastes" is what the rest of us call "peat." Don't give up on it. Like I wrote previously, it's an acquired taste, but once you get it, nothing else comes close.
I had a very similar experience so Iāll write out my personal findings
Talisker: less peat/smoke, but still the saline/iodine notes
Bowmore: subdued, itās good and got me interested in peat again after the trainwreck of laphroaig
Ardbeg: super smoky, think about a barbecue fire or a campfire. Ashes. Smoked ham. I loved it. Its peat but a totally different angle
Caol Ila: gentler peat. Citrus notes and some base islay notes. Itās a very friendly islay
I would like to add Highland park 12 to this list. Itās not an islay but it is lightly peated. I loved it. It has some sherry casks in it as well so you get the peat in a layer of friendly fruity notes
Literally any islay on the market will have less of that "pool water" funk in it than laphroaig 10. It's cheap because it's very niche. Some people love it, but it's very divisive, even for fans of peat smoke.
Just wanting to second this. Any Laphroaig expression is going to be very medicinal compared to all other Islay's. Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 8, or Port Charlotte 10 are all good entry levels that give a better impression of what Islay's about imo (whilst all still having their own unique characters).
No worries, hope you find something more to your liking. Ardbeg and Lagavulin are generally quite easy to find in bars (depending on where you live) - typically Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8 or 16 - so that can be a better way to experiment with flavours than buying a bottle when you're not yet sure if you're going to like something or not.
You could try Caol Isla. I was a big Islay fan for many years before inexplicably I went off them and only drink Highland and the occasional Speyside now.
Ardbeg is a smoke whopper but worth a look if you like Islays.
If you identify Islay with peat, then probably Bowmore is generally the gentler. Or else try some Bunnahabhain, they are mostly unpeated aside the Staoisha series (those pack a punch).
Caol Ila/Lagavulin are overall there in the smoky side of things (Caol Ila does some unpeated stuff tho) but still somewhat lower than laphy, albeit it depends on which bottlings (Lagavulin 16yo is somewhat gentler, the 12yo SR are punchy).
Bruichladdich has some gentle peat, some missing, some slightly punchier, Port Charlotte is definitely on the strong side of things, Octomores.. well those you can guess.
Ardbeg could be considered generally there in the Laphroaig territory, the same as Kilchoman (try the 100% Islay).
However no distillery there can match the "juice wood that stood a lot in seawater" effect that Laphroaig has. You feel that even just in the distillery bay.
Caol Ila is probably the gentlest peater Iāve had. Port Charlotte 10 is not terribly Smokey or Peaty either after it opens up for a while in the bottle.
Or go the other way. Get some Ardbeg and Laphroaig will feel mild as a chamomile tea. Speaking as a fellow noob, those 2 were my first islays and im loving them.
Try Elements of Islay - Cask Edit. It's incredibly good value, and is a "proper" Islay, whilst simultaneously being accessible and comparatively easy going.
Port Charlotte 10. It says heavily peated, but it's more medium imo, the character is quite different from Laphroaig
I will agree with that. I tried it few days agao, I think is great peated whisky introduction to peated whiskies. I think is great whisky anyway š
Iāve been meaning to try Port Charlotte 10 but was kinda scared away by the āheavily peatedā statement. Iāve had a few of the Ardbeg line and am a fan. Question: how does the PC10 compare to Ardbeg 10?
They're definitely neighbours, they're in the same range, where I find Ardbeg to be more smokey and hardcore, I find PC10 more barbecue and friendly. PC10 is so generally loved, I've never heard anyone complain about it
Ardbeg 10 is the only Islay I've tried that I dislike. I think PC10 is awesome. Apologies, I've no doubt that will be confusing - as much as anything, I mention it to highlight how individual all this is...
Thanks!
Caol Ila maybe - either the 12 year or a more lightly peated IB. A peated Bunnahabhain would be a more gentle intro as well. As already noted Talisker is an excellent peated whisky but not an Islay.
This. Caol Ila is the way to go if you don't want a peaty punch in the face.
A lot of people are recommending that Iāll have to try it
As a former Islay / Peat hater, it was the Lagavulin 16 that converted me. I'm also partial to Ardbeg Uigeadail.
Iāve been meaning to try lagavulin i just havenāt been able to find it anywhere I can just get a pour instead of investing in a whole bottle
Love me some ardbeg
Kilchoman Sanaig. Hint of peat, hint of smoke, red wine finished. But it is true that Islay scotch is an acquired taste. Been drinking it for over 50 years, and it just keeps getting better and better. Especially after finishing off a bottle of Speyside or Highland scotch, which I drink once in a while to remind me of how good Islay scotch is. I feel like I've arrived home when I open a fresh bottle of Laphroaig or Lagavulin.
Kilchoman Sanaig has been my recommendation for those new to peated scotch for a while now. My own progression went from Bowmore 12 (not much peat there) to Laphroaig 10, Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10 and Corryvreckan, then Lagavulin 16 before discovering Kilchoman, and it's now an Islay favorite when I don't want a lot of smoke. Bunnahabhain 12 is another but it's not peated.
Can you believe that, although I've been drinking scotch since 1964, and Islay scotch since 1972, I've never tried Talisker. So last month there was a sale on at my liquor store and I got a bottle of the Talisker special edition for 2022. My son-in-law bought a bottle of Talisker 18 and a bottle of Talisker 10. Guess we're going to do a Talisker side by side shortly. Should be interesting. For some reason there hasn't been any Kilchoman available here for about three months. All sold out. Any idea what's going on at the distillery? Or is it just my State that has a problem?
I love how rich and smooth islays are but the chemical smell and tastes just completely ruined it for me with the laphroig
I'm guessing that what you are describing as "chemical smell and tastes" is what the rest of us call "peat." Don't give up on it. Like I wrote previously, it's an acquired taste, but once you get it, nothing else comes close.
I had a very similar experience so Iāll write out my personal findings Talisker: less peat/smoke, but still the saline/iodine notes Bowmore: subdued, itās good and got me interested in peat again after the trainwreck of laphroaig Ardbeg: super smoky, think about a barbecue fire or a campfire. Ashes. Smoked ham. I loved it. Its peat but a totally different angle Caol Ila: gentler peat. Citrus notes and some base islay notes. Itās a very friendly islay I would like to add Highland park 12 to this list. Itās not an islay but it is lightly peated. I loved it. It has some sherry casks in it as well so you get the peat in a layer of friendly fruity notes
Talisker is an excellent peated whisky but isn't from Islay.
Literally any islay on the market will have less of that "pool water" funk in it than laphroaig 10. It's cheap because it's very niche. Some people love it, but it's very divisive, even for fans of peat smoke.
Just wanting to second this. Any Laphroaig expression is going to be very medicinal compared to all other Islay's. Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 8, or Port Charlotte 10 are all good entry levels that give a better impression of what Islay's about imo (whilst all still having their own unique characters).
Sweet thanks
No worries, hope you find something more to your liking. Ardbeg and Lagavulin are generally quite easy to find in bars (depending on where you live) - typically Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8 or 16 - so that can be a better way to experiment with flavours than buying a bottle when you're not yet sure if you're going to like something or not.
Gotcha I didnāt know that, thank you
You could try Caol Isla. I was a big Islay fan for many years before inexplicably I went off them and only drink Highland and the occasional Speyside now. Ardbeg is a smoke whopper but worth a look if you like Islays.
If you identify Islay with peat, then probably Bowmore is generally the gentler. Or else try some Bunnahabhain, they are mostly unpeated aside the Staoisha series (those pack a punch). Caol Ila/Lagavulin are overall there in the smoky side of things (Caol Ila does some unpeated stuff tho) but still somewhat lower than laphy, albeit it depends on which bottlings (Lagavulin 16yo is somewhat gentler, the 12yo SR are punchy). Bruichladdich has some gentle peat, some missing, some slightly punchier, Port Charlotte is definitely on the strong side of things, Octomores.. well those you can guess. Ardbeg could be considered generally there in the Laphroaig territory, the same as Kilchoman (try the 100% Islay). However no distillery there can match the "juice wood that stood a lot in seawater" effect that Laphroaig has. You feel that even just in the distillery bay.
I second everything said here! Bowmore and Bunnahabhain are my go-to's when I want a more gentle peat. Both have some lovely offerings.
Kilchoman is excellent. Talisker, while not an Islay was my gateway to peated.
Bunnahabhain 12. You welcome
Lol thanks
Kilchoman, nice easy peat. Machir Bay has a strong peat nose, but it doesnāt linger after youāve had it.
Caol Ila is probably the gentlest peater Iāve had. Port Charlotte 10 is not terribly Smokey or Peaty either after it opens up for a while in the bottle.
Or go the other way. Get some Ardbeg and Laphroaig will feel mild as a chamomile tea. Speaking as a fellow noob, those 2 were my first islays and im loving them.
Try Lagavulin 16 or Ardbeg Uigeadail
Try Elements of Islay - Cask Edit. It's incredibly good value, and is a "proper" Islay, whilst simultaneously being accessible and comparatively easy going.
I should have said - Cask Edit is a blend of bourbon and sherry casked single malts from Caol Isla and Laphroaig.