Spirit Guide
Here we share the wee drams and various spirits we taste on our travels and recommend are worth a dram. Slàinte mhath!
Our rating system: 1 (thanks but no thanks), 2 (thanks for the taste), 3 (buy a dram), 4 (buy a bottle), 5 (invest in the distillery)
Note: although we are employees (contractors) of Diageo, the opinions expressed below are solely ours.
Stonehenge Mead
Lyme Bay Winery
Funny that our travels to work at a whisky distillery started with a honey mead! But the tourist trap that is the Stonehenge shop did its job, so we bought this medium sweet mead with spicy overtones. Warming, spiced, sweet. Would be perfect over ice or warmed on a cold night.
Alex's rating: 3 - buy a dram/Viking horn.
Nikki's rating: 4 - buy a bottle.
Distillery Exclusive 2023 (56.5%)
Lagavulin Distillery
One of the first whiskies we are introduced to when we first start at Lagavulin Distillery. Every year, staff at the distillery are sent four mystery bottles from the Master Distillers and must choose their favourite, which then becomes that year's Distillery Exclusive. One of 7,000 bottles. This one is first fill ex-bourbon cask married with heavily recharred American oak casks. Sweet and smoky, I caught sweet BBQ ribs and popcorn on the palate!
Alex's rating: 4 - buy a bottle.
Nikki's rating: 4- buy a bottle.
Jazz Festival 2018 (58.5%)
Lagavulin Distillery
One of the more enjoyable whiskies in the Lagavulin collection that have tried so far. This bottle was made specially for the Islay Jazz Festival, of which Lagavulin Distillery is the major sponsor. First fill American oak imparts a vanilla butteriness, while the refill American oak and European oak impart floral notes, and of course the Lagavulin oily smoke. A surprising end note of tobacco!
Alex's rating: "I don't remember" ;)
Nikki's rating: 4 - buy a bottle. It's a journey!
12 year old Small Batch Distilled (46.3%)
Bunnahabhain Distillery
After a tasting in Bunnahabhain's Warehouse Number 9, it is fast climbing the ranks of our favourite Islay distilleries.
A sherried, sweet and unpeated Bunnahabhain that caught our eye. Dried fruit, cloves and mixed spice, tannins. Seriously great value 12 year old.
Alex's rating: 3 - buy a dram.
Nikki's rating: 4 - buy a bottle.
Distillery Exclusive 2018 (57.4%)
Caol Ila Distillery
One of the drams we tasted on our visit to the Caol Ila Distillery overlooking the Sound of Islay. With the Paps of Jura watching us from a distance, we tasted a few drams from the Caol Ila range, including a cocktail made from Johnnie Walker black (of which Caol Ila is one of the 4 contributing distilleries). One of 6,000 bottles, made from refill bourbon and red wine casks. An interesting mix of long and warming barbecue smoke, with spicy vanilla and green apples. Some lime and salt on the palate.
Alex's rating: 3 - buy a dram.
Nikki's rating: 2 - thanks for the taste.
Moch (43%)
Caol Ila Distillery
A no-age-statement 'introduction to smoky whisky' dram from Caol Ila. Moch means 'dawn' in Gaelic. A crisp and briney number with a wisp of smoke - as if you just had a morning swim in the cold waters of Islay ;)
Alex's rating: 3 - buy a dram (or 4 for good value)
Nikki's rating: 2 - thanks for the taste.
Mystery Bottle (to be revealed...)
To Be Named Distillery
A new release from a soon to be announced distillery. Like biting into a sweet plum before an explosion of smoke. Somewhat medicinal? An interesting dram. Lingering herbaceous smoke to finish.
Alex's rating: 3 - buy a dram.
Nikki's rating: 2 - thanks for the taste.