Port Ellen 23yo (40%,75cl, Distilled in 1982, Connoisseurs Choice)

Appearance:

Very pale gold

Nose:

Peat and smoke.

Palate:

Exceptionally smooth peat slowly merges with an unintrusive smokey flavor.

Finish:
Lingering peat and smoke with hints of biscuit.

Grade: A+
Comment: I'd been on the prowl for a bottle of Port Ellen for some time (relatively speaking). This distillery closed its doors when I was but three years old and stumbling upon a bottle was unexpected to say the least. While this Connoisseurs choice bottling was spectacular, but I'm longing for Diageo to release the next vintage directly from the sealed Port Ellen storehouse on Islay.

Glenrothes 15yo (43%, 75cl, 1991)

Appearance:

Pale gold

Nose:

Earthy, like an un-aged eau-de-vie. Buttery undertones.

Palate:

Biscuit when drunk straight, lots of butterscotch with water added; honey undertones and and just hints of the earthiness from the nose.

Finish:
The earthy fruit linger beyond the other flavors.

Grade: B+

Laphroaig 30yo (43%)

Appearance:

Rich gold

Nose:

Peat, peat, and a little more peat. Faint hints of honey

Palate:

The peat dominates, with a sweet, almost biscuit like flavor and some smoke.

Finish:
The finish lasts for minutes, slowly winding its way through.

Grade: A

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 yo (43%)

Appearance:

Mead yellow

Nose:

Vanilla, honey, & port.

Palate:

Nutty with buttery over tones. Some sherry as well.

Finish:
A long and buttery finish.

Grade: A-

Bowmore 12yo (43%)

Appearance:

Honey yellow

Nose:

Peat with a little butter & toffee.

Palate:

The islay peat does not disappoint in Bowmore's 12yo, but the smokiness is a little subdued.

Finish:
The tail has the faintest hints of citrus mixed in with the peat.

Grade: B+

Lagavulin 16yo (43%)

Appearance:

A rich gold.

Nose:

Smoke and peat with a hint of butter.

Palate:

The smoke and peat from the nose intensifies greatly here with almost none of the buttery hints remaining.

Finish:
The peat lingers on for minutes.

Grade: A