The only distillery on the Isle of Skye (founded in 1830).
Takes its name from the Norse name for the mountain Thalas Gair or Sloping Rock. The distillery is on the exposed west coast of the island, on the seaweedy shores of Loch Harport.
Master of Malt Comments:
Nose: Thick, pungent smoke. Notes of kippers, seaweed, apple peels. Fresh and fragrant.
Palate: Full bodied with huge plumes of smoke and volcanic, peppery peat. Intense.
Finish: Long finish, barley, malt.
NSC Comments:
Nose: Thick, smoke
Palate: Full bodied with lots of smoke, peppery, peat
Finish: Long finish
Round 2: Aberfeldy 16 Year Old
Cost: $95 CDN
Region: Highland
Fun Facts:
Founded in 1896 by John and Thomas Dewar. ‘Whisky Tom’ the younger of the brothers was an entrepreneur and a great character, reputed to have been the third owner of a motor car in Britain
Aberfeldy nowadays gets its malt – a medium peated grain – from the Glenesk maltings at Montrose. It employs wooden washbacks.
Master of Malt Comments:
Nose: Raisins and cinnamon at first, before moving onto butterscotch, caramel and apple slice. A touch of floral malt, too.
Palate: Well rounded and mellow, but not lazy at all. More apple at first, soon joined by clementine segments and honey on toast. A spark of ginger.
Finish: Waxy peels and oak.
Overall: An ace Aberfeldy, and good value too.
NSC Comments:
No “official” comments were constructed by the group, but everyone enjoyed the Aberfeldy, thinking the additional 6 years of aging was noticeable. Not as “nosy”.
Consensus was the finish was almost as long lasting as the Talisker, but “sweeter” on the palate. Both scotches enjoyed… vastly different.
Bonus Round: Old St. Andrews Blended Whisky
Cost: $51 CDN
Region: Scotland (Blended)
Fun Facts:
It’s in a golf ball! How much more fun can it be?
Master of Malt Comments:
Not really “rated”, but it is mentioned on the site with this… Named after the famous golf course on the east coast of Scotland, Old St Andrews Clubhouse Blended Scotch Whisky comes in a handsome golf-ball shaped bottle – the perfect gift for the golf and whisky fanatic in your life. Overall, Old St Andrews Clubhouse Blend is a hole in onewell above pareasy to putt away a very yummy whisky.
