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.

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

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

Caol Ila 18yo (43%)

Appearance:

Pale gold.

Nose:

Smoke and peat. Adding a few drops of water dramatically reduces the quality of the nose.

Palate:

The peat and smoke come through clearly in this very smooth scotch with buttery undertones. A few drops of water made this scotch markedly sweater and reduced the smokiness. The buttery undertones also intensified.

Finish:
The peat lingers for several minutes. With water, the buttery taste lingers as well.

Comment:

I've learned one lesson tonight - do not sully this spectacular scotch with even the smallest amount of water.

Grade: A