Single Malt
Scotland
Islay Storm
C.S. James and Sons Ltd.
An Islay single malt from a secret distillery, Islay Storm has loads of peaty character.
Peat smoke, oily, briny, some malt.
Sweet rush initially, then onto medicinal peat and seaweed, some bourbon notes, spices, custard.
Smoke, long and spiced.
I received it as a present but I am now addicted to it. Cees
I absolutely love Islay Storm. I used to drink Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky for years. But once I tried some good single malt Scotch whiskys my taste changed. So I switched to Macallan and a few other good single malt whiskys for quite some time, until I first tasted Whisky from Islay. Then there was no turning back! I love that peaty, smokey flavor!!! My wife and I even love smokey flavored Cabernet wine. So for the next number of years, after trying some a variety of very good and highly acclaimed single malt Scotch Whiskys from Islay, Lagavulin and Laphroaig became my favorites! Until I ran into “The Perfect Storm”, an Islay Storm. This was the best storm I ever ran into. I think that everything about Islay Storm is so close to Lagavulin and Laphroaig, that it absolutely does not make sense to spend $60.00-$90.00 for 750ml of Whisky from Islay, when I can buy Islay Storm from Trader Joe’s for &19.99, and be equally satisfied. This certainly proves that costing more isn’t always better. I recently had some Laphroaig and was extremely pleased to reconfirm that I definitely like Islay Storm the best. {As a side note, first, I learned that it’s actually incorrect to refer to Whisky from Scotland as Scotch. In Scotland it’s referred to just as Whisky. From the words of a Scotsman, “People from Scotland are Scotch. The Whisky distilled in Scotland is Whisky.”} [Second, I also learned that Whisky distilled in Scotland is spelled without the letter “e”, where Whiskey distilled outside of Scotland is spelled with the letter “e”; ie: Irish Whiskey, Tennessee Whiskey; etc.] Craig Cohn Northbrook, IL
There is less peat than I'm used to and you can tell it's been aged less than most, but overall it's a great buy. I picked it up for $20/bottle at Trader Joe's. With that in mind, it's not worth it to me to spend an extra $30 to get something that's only marginally better.
It taste like if you bite old leathery sofa, it is your thing, or it is not. There is not much else going on, little bit bourbon vanila in aftertaste. I personaly enjoy this drum very much.First impression was, that this must be young Laphroaig, but after couple more drums, I am not that sure. Downside is, that it is deluted to 40%. 43 to 46 would be much better.
I was Captain of the Islay Ferry for 16 years and am puzzled re the secret distillery. I carried thousand of barrels in my time and every distillery was proud to name their whiskey. Why not this one?
