Our good friends at Master of Malt ask us to sample whiskies from their “Drinks by the Dram” Collection from time to time, and we want to share our impressions with you. We hope you enjoy this new feature at ScotchHunter.Com. Our notes along with links to the whiskies we sampled follow:
Johnny Drum Black Label 12 Year Old – This whisky was new to us. It is an American bourbon and bottled at 43% alcohol by volume. We sensed fruit and a hint of orange peel to start. The palette was surprisingly big for its alcohol content but it was not complex. Pepper and spice dominated and there seemed to be a presence of red apple – quite pleasant. The finish was warming, and a pleasant oiliness lingered. See Johnny Drum Black Label 12 Year Old
Master of Malt 12 Year Old Islay – This malt was also a new adventure. The dram was the lightest of the three and bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. As we opened the bottle, we noted hints of soft seaweed and peat. The palette presented us with an interesting blend of coffee and licorice. The finish was sweet but short with a hint of petrol. See Master of Malt 12 Year Old Islay
Laphroaig Quarter Cask – This is a favorite friend and our latest tasting of this Islay malt did not disappoint. Bottled at 48% alcohol by volume, its nose was not over powering. There was a faint but important interplay of peat and smoke. At first, we noticed sweet charcoal, followed by smooth, rich sugarcane syrup. The finish was peaty, sophisticated, and powerful throughout. In our view, this malt is much more pleasant than its 10 year old cousin. See Laphroaig Quarter Cask
