Cask Islay is a small batch single malt Scotch whisky from an unnamed Islay distillery, bottled by A. D. Rattray, who have a bit of a history with excellent independent bottlings. This tasty rascal was matured in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry hogsheads, but who did it come from? Mystery! Suspense! Yummy, smoky whisky laden with fruit notes! Cask Islay has got it all!
Rich peat, candied orange peels and a light breeze of coastal air.
Fresh orange and honeyed barley notes, surrounded by peat smoke. Quite oily. A hint of crumbly sea-side fudge glows in the centre.
Sweet apple and light smoke lasts on the long finish.
Delicious. Some classic Islay notes that will have you racking your brain for "Where did I taste that before?"
Who cares. All the smoky flavours a peat-head could want from a south coast Islay but delivered with the most silky soft mouth feel
Very much in the tradition of the area, not unlike lagavulin, and a definite re-buy!
Definitely like an Ardbeg No where near the beauty and complexity of Caol Ila Still a nice Islay tho
Just had a trial tot of this in my local wine warehouse. Tastes a bit like a good Bowmore to me, could be a Caol Isla (known for un-named releases) but I like it better than their named releases; surely not Laphroigh, is it? Really? Not too peaty not too fruity quite oakey, a good "all round" islay malt that's not been messed with over-much. If you like the idea of Islay malts but don't like the seaweed of Laphroaig or the smoke of Lagavulin it might be the one. At the time of tasting I thought I'd spend the money on another bottle of Arbeg 10yr old instead (which can be got for only a little more), but with a glass of the Arbeg in my hand right now .. I'm thinking I might get a bottle after all as it's quite different.....
Sweet on the nose. Initially I thought it was a Kilchoman cask, but unnamed sources confirmed it to be a Laphroig. Could have fooled me!
