What feels like many years ago now, I wanted a whisky while at a bar I frequented. At this point I had really only had the very young man’s experience with whiskey. Johnnie Walker Red neat (underage wanting to be the guy that drinks Scotch), Black Label, Green Label that a buddy had one time (a pleasant anomaly, admittedly), and shots of Jack, Jameson, and even Glenlivet (yep, freshly 21 and that’s how I thought you drank Scotch). I mostly settled on beers and ciders, occasionally doing shots at the odd party where the vibe called for more than beer. But that night I decided to try drinking whiskey correctly. I looked at the selection and ordered a Laphroaig because I thought the name was dope and the cute bartender spoke highly of it. That dram was something special. I started learning about how regions had a different flavor profile (Islay, anyway), eventually learned that I liked peat, and I haven’t looked back.
Minutia: Matured in ex-bourbon barrels, enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Gold.
Nose: Peat, bandages, seaweed.
Taste: Slightly sweet, sea, smoke, tarry.
Finish: Big, long, ends with peat/vegetation. Makes you want to have another sip to get it again.
Even if this whiskey wasn’t good, or if my tastes happen to evolve so much where I no longer appreciate the Islay palate, as the dram that ultimately began my journey down this wonderful rabbit hole, this whisky will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s truly a blessing how widely available this is and for a good price. This is one I’ll always keep on hand.
Score: 91
No comments:
Post a Comment