Information of the Lagavulin Distillers Version (DE) up to date packaging shedding its classic – which can forestall an unofficial age assertion and comparability of vintages – made me keep in mind that I’ve a pattern of this Talisker DE.
Since the Laga and Talisker DE are each peated single malts completed in several types of ex-sherry casks, I made a decision it was time to check the Talisker DE 2013 with Ardbeg’s An Oa, which is a peated single malt with an identical ex-sherry cask affect.
The Talisker DE 2013 was distilled and barreled in 2002, which makes this not less than 10 years outdated, 11 on the most. It was completed in ex-Amoroso sherry casks for an unknown period of time. Amoroso sherry is a lesser identified type of sherry, whereby Oloroso sherry is combined with about 10% of Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry and barrel aged for round 4 to 5 years. This fashion of sherry is claimed to be unique to the El Maestro Sierra bodega.
Ardbeg’s An Oa is one other NAS launch that’s made up of whisky that’s been aged in ex-PX casks and new American oak and ex-bourbon casks. Then, it’s married in a big French oak vat.
A few of you could be pondering that this isn’t a good comparability. For one, Talisker isn’t as peaty and smoky as Ardbeg. They don’t even use the identical type of peat. The cask influences and ABV are additionally not the identical… however, what the heck? Customers love to check Macallan to Glendronach, or to Aberlour. They aren’t excellent comparisons both. Let’s simply see how good and totally different these two may be.
It’s additionally a possibility for me to get reacquainted with peated single malts with ex-wine cask influences. To be trustworthy, it is a fashion of peated whisky I by no means actually obtained hooked on, primarily as a result of there weren’t a lot of them after I was nonetheless an unique whisky drinker. Other than the plain unbiased bottlings, there have been the Talisker, Caol Ila and Lagavulin DEs. However, none had been accessible domestically. I believe the Kilchoman Loch Gorm and a few Laphroaig expressions, just like the Cairdeas Portwood, too? Sure, the Uigeadail has some sherry cask affect in it. However in the event you didn’t learn about it, you wouldn’t have been capable of guess.
There’s at all times a bunch of sherry bomb and peated whisky lovers on the market in search of peated single malts with sherry affect. Hopefully it will assist them out.
The 200ml An Oa pattern got here from Ardbeg’s “Monster of Smoke” pattern pack, which was launched to rejoice Ardbeg Day. It got here with the identical dimension bottles of Ardbeg 10 and the Wee Beastie. The Talisker pattern got here from a pal.
Talisker Distillers Version 2013 – Overview
45.8% ABV. £62 from Whisky Auctioneer.
Colour: Amber with a pink hue.
On the nostril: That is like smelling peated and smoked bread and cereals with a pointy tartness. I get gentle however lingering aromas of cereals, honey, Fuji apples and one thing akin to corn bread. After it are bolder aromas of peat, smoke, muddled cherries, raspberries, raisins and sultanas. The sharpness comes with the pink fruit aromas.
Within the mouth: Not as sharp as on the nostril. The notes listed below are additionally not as muddled as on the nostril. I get gentle to medium tastes of peat, smoke, cereals, bread, honey, raspberries, cherries, raisins, roasted grapes, moscatel grapes and brine.
Conclusions:
I really feel like peated whisky getting some ex-wine cask affect is a give and take. It provides some new mixtures of flavors, nevertheless it additionally takes away or covers up among the extra delicate flavors within the whisky.
Protected to say: it’s all about preferences. It is a good whisky. It has good flavors. Plus factors for me not getting any trace of sulfur from this. However, I nonetheless want the ex-bourbon cask-matured 10 yr. There are extra delicate flavors. The sherry affect right here type of acts like a security internet, stopping me from having fun with the deeper elements of Talisker.
Rating: 6/10
Ardbeg An Oa – Overview
46.6% ABV. £46.45 on The Whisky Alternate.
Colour: Mild maroon.
On the nostril: A bit paying homage to the Corryvreckan. I get gentle to medium aromas of brioche, that crusted and herbed Italian bread you dip in olive oil with vinegar (sherry vinegar included), peat, smoke, rosemary, roasted grapes, tartness, and Japanese nori chips with almonds.
Within the mouth: Far more briny up entrance. I get gentle to medium tastes of brine, soy sauce, Japanese nori chips with almonds, brioche, rosemary, extra herbed Italian bread, peppery, PX sherry tartness, cinnamon syrup, honey, vanilla, Korean barley tea, and roasted grapes.
Conclusions:
That is the clear winner of the 2. The flavors are extra cohesive in comparison with the muddled flavors of the Talisker DE. Discover I additionally didn’t point out the ethanol chew or sharpness regardless of the upper ABV. I initially didn’t just like the An Oa when it first got here out. Now, I believe that is well-made, plus factors for the affordability as nicely.
An extra observe: I believe being married in French oak vats gave this bread-like flavors, which made me consider the Corryvreckan.
Rating: 7/10
Picture of Talisker DE courtesy of Whisky Auctioneer.
