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Have both, agree, the Infinite Loch doesn’t live up to the Inaugural Release’s standards. It’s not a bad dram per se, but at that price, I’d stick with the Inaugural. Anyone has a chance to compare their Society 2024 yet?

Green Label is way better than that thin whisky called Blie Label.

Never met an Octomore I didn't like. Love the way the smoke is so well integrated and there always tends to be plenty more going on with them than just being heavily peated - the fact that you can still pick out the barley / distillate in them, even with some of the wine / sherry cask etc bottlings, is great. A treat. Only "complaint" is when you misjudge when the bottle is nearly empty because of the opaque bottles...

Is this the only Kilchoman that has the meaty peaty flavor/ smell?

🎉

The Loch Gruinart is a solid whisky. On the nose a little spirity, young. On the pallet an finish it shines. It has a little bit of sourness, but in a good way an the aftertaste is lovely. It stays on the shelf for sure.

Thanks gents - think you've convinced me on this one. They released it at £35 initially, missed it unfortunately. Still have fond memories of when they used to stock Machir Bay 5 or so years ago (I think), then decided to stop stocking it, and then discounted it to £25 - I must have visited 10 M&S stores trying to track them down and bought 3 bottles.

I have not been in close contact with M&S's product development teams & buyers in over a decade but I doubt they have changed the basics much. The always hired experts. They rarely went to the market with a question to see what came back unless it was an existing supplier & even then they would have a specific brief. They would often search for the best they could find, see who made it & approach them. I was rare for it to be the other way around. With the whisky I assume they went with the idea to find what was the best they could make in the quantity they needed & this maker said yes. They also were never afraid not to make much money if the thing that was made was good enough. With every other supermarket they start with a price point subtract the margin they want & then tell the supplier make an item that costs so & so. M&S it was the other way around, make the best you can & we will work out how much we can charge.

40 (48€) quid is not cheap if you compare it to the 15 which you can get from drankdozijn for just 7 pounds (57€) more.

Well played lads!

Another great episode, great to see.

A question for you Bottlekiller and host with the most... ...are there any distilleries around John O'Groats that are worth a visit?

I was back in the UK last month and was beyond stoked to see this on the shelf at Whisky Exchange in London. I cracked it for the first time last week and im totally with you. This is my whisky of 2024 so far for sure!! Unbelievable stuff!! Ive also had a bottle of the sherry version and that was also a banger. I live in Victoria, BC and the sherry one is the only bottling that has made its way out here as yet. If you love this, have you guys tried the MacNair's 10 yr old CS? Very similar taste profile

I bought my first Cairdeas last year, with the '23 white port. It was nice, but didnt blow my socks off. I do love a bit of sherry maturation so this might be much more up my street.

Manoel

Absolutely 💯 The 10 CS is my go to preference!!

Laphroaig...simply a revelation. Just dipping my toe into the world of Scotch several years ago it was mostly budget blends, the Chivas, Johnnie Walkers et al. I think the first true single malt purchase was a Glenrothes. And it was...nice. But heard so much chatter of "Islay this, Islay that" so went for the 10 year (43% here in the US) and Jeeez Leweez was it an absolute blast. It's been a favorite ever since. I will say those Element experimental bottles seem to be chasing the Ardbeg committee release model a bit. Higher priced, NAS batches? Nah, I'll pass. The states also began receiving the single cask private selections as of 2022. However...7 to 8 year Laphroaig asking $250-300 was far too rich for my wallet. Stores are still trying to move these bottles with hefty markdowns. They may have overestimated the interest is such a line. Cheers boys!

Absolutely love the Sherry Cask Laphroaig. Given to me by son and daughter in law for father's day. I Always disliked Laphroaig tcp, to the point of giving a bottle away to my local pub. Enjoyed your review it has been an inspiration to replace the half empty bottle asap Nigel 😎

Thanks gents - think I will always have a soft spot for Laphroaig - the 10yr was the first bottle I bought for myself when I was 19 (struggled with it to be honest!) and have always loved the place itself when I've managed to wrangle distillery visits. Very big fan of the cask strength 10 releases - great texture and it's just more Laphroaig-ey - haven't noticed the lack of saltiness in the releases I've had, but will go back and check (for research purposes...). The 10yr sherry was surprisingly nice and really decent value - I tend to prefer bourbon dominated stuff, but that has great balance and works really well - beats the PX cask release for some distance for me. If you like the maritime notes with a higher strength, the 2022 Cairdeas Warehouse 1 release was pretty tidy and worth a go if you can pick it up for a reasonable price. Keep up the good work!

Cairdeas is pronounced as "Car Chase".

Can confirm I made it to the end! Great episode…glad the Lepanto grew on you! Defo agree with the VO cask strength, absolutely the best VO we have released and of course can’t forget the 21yo Organic. Seems like you enjoyed them all and hopefully there wasn’t too much of a headache afterwards🤣

Love this delicious whisky!! 🥃

Well done boys solid listing although after all of the nonsense with the Ardbeg committee releases and the shameless price gouging of poor quality id have them firmly at number 9. Although I like what they do, I think they treat their customers like shit.

some say the old release was better.. what are your thoughts?

Delicious!

Is the TURBO better than a Kilchoman Senaig?

Always here for the Jibba Jabba and the Banging bottles and your entertainment

Put your shoes on pal 😂

Delicious!!🤤

I have had this bottle sitting untouched in the back of the cabinet for over a year after opening. Im in the US and the ownership of Arbikie are from the New York area (of Scottish descent and owners of the farm distillery from what I gathered) and I found in at a shop near me. American Rye whiskey had had a huge resergence the last half decade and it actually does quite well at a young age. 3-5 years are quite drinkable (our seasonal climate does have an effect on that over Scotland). It all sounded well and good (price here was $140 US) so I went for it. However, this is not a pleasant pour. I think the raw unpalatable flavors are not a fault with the rye but of the heavy addition of wheat. We have many wheated bourbons available to me here and if not well aged, the harsh notes of the wheat grain can really be at odds with the traditional vanillas and caramel flavors if not properly integrated with the whiskey. (Weller wheated bourbons are most often exceptional examples. Larceny 41% is often a lesser, young example) The youthful funk is overpowering the sweet and peppery rye component that often makes a true rye whiskey so popular as a neat pour or a major pillar in a cocktail. To me, this seems like a cash grab to pay off the investments in the distillery as soon as possible. It needs a decade in that cooler northern climate before I would ever consider trying another batch in the future.

Laphroaig seems to normally offer young and affordable whiskies for Feis Ila. Which has it's place for me. Other distilleries such as Lagavulin don't mind asking for thousands. The Cairdeas (I pronounce it similarly) is also regularly available in the US, assuming time of year. Now that is a proper sofa. cheers, Mike

I have not seen this here. Dry and bitter? I do not mind the cereal and wood. Spot on comment with "don't waste this on a cocktail". If you pay that much, I agree, not a cocktail. Cheers!

Great video! Watching from Australia and you guys are feeekin awesome. Great whiskey knowledge and enthusiasm and your whisky room is next level. Hope this Chanel goes bonkers soon

Definately cool kids whisky! Fun format, just dropped in. I hope to stay connected. Certainly a bottle killer over here! Cheers!

This is the best Lagavulin!!!

I bought 6 and loving it!

The volume is terrible.

Love it guys, I'll be along promptly. ;)

Found it 😂

Loved this Ardbeg!

Can I join the liverpool society???

Thanks gents - still waiting for mine to arrive, so good to hear really positive first impressions on this

It's just the best whisky ever

Bought Smoke Trails Côte-Rôtie edition at the distillery on a recent trip to Scotland. It was the only bottle that I bought on my trip that I regret buying. Ardcore was my least favorite special edition that I've purchased, but Smoke Trails is now my least favorite. I completely agree with you review. There isn't much to say about it. To me it is very thin, no complexity or character whatsoever. Reminded me of red pepper that got over charred on the grill.

Ardbeg is spectacular! So is Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Kilchomen! Talisker is awesome!

Great review guys🎪

Great review guys - thanks

Been waiting for PC 18 reviews. Nice one.

Good work

Cracking review lads! Cheers for the shout out James 👌🏻🥃💯 I had a feeling you’d lean towards the Bruichladdich 18 😂