A Flowery Song

Background: From the Laphroaig distillery on Islay comes this peaty whisky, bottled without dilution or chill-filtering at 55.7% ABV after aging for a minimum of ten years.

Nose: Full and rich, displaying smoke, iodine, medicinal phenols, fruit, and tar.

Taste: Like the nose. Rich nutty peat background, hints of sea air and a powerful smokiness. Long finish with tons of peat.

(Dilute, I suppose.)

Nose: Sweeter and fruitier, with the smoke displaying some fatty barbecue-like notes.

Taste: Strong iodine attack, earthy and meaty peat middle, strong smoky peat finish.

Overall: 'Tis whisky. Strong and takes no prisoners, but wonderfully complex and tasty. If you like peaty Scotch, you're going to love this.

Background: Another Speyside malt; Tamdhu is the only Speyside distillery that does all of its malting on-site.

Nose: Mild and fruity, with some fresh grain influence.

Taste: Spicy oak, vegetal barley. Medium-length oily finish.

(Along came H2O)

Nose: Fruity. Sweet apple and pear.

Taste: Smoke, toffee, caramel, grass, lemon, and vanilla present.

Overall: Uninspiringly mild whisky. Some water helps to open it up.