The whisky show 2022 took place last weekend in London. Sadly I was not able to attend, but many Israeli friends did go and had a great time, from what I hear. I was looking fwd to trying this year’s releases and sadly got them only today (Thanks to DHL being assholes and not being able to deliver to me even though the package was in Israel all week – holiday season here so many vacations). Finally, I put my hands on them and sat writing my notes.
In the past, TWE has made innovative use of ultraviolet ink and anaglyphic 3D imagery to develop unique labels for the occasion. The 2022 bottlings feature designs inspired by From Grain to Green theme, printed using heat-sensitive ink that reacts to changing environmental conditions- very nice idea regardless of the liquid inside, which we shall visit shorty.
I chose to start reviewing them according to age, from youngest to oldest starting with the peated ones. so let’s start with the 9 yo Coal Ila.
Caol Ila 2013 9 yo, distilled 27/07/2013 – single hhd ,57.3%, £69.95
Nose: Smoky, peaty, and deep on the nose, with a touch of wood resin, thick caramel candy notes on top of the pepper, ripe oranges, licorice, and seaspray, with sweet ashes and a hint of pine needles and tobacco.
Palate: More of the piney notes going on with ample notes of tobacco, tar, ash, and foresty notes. A hint of smoky porter, orange bitters, and darkly roasted espresso, with a sweet touch of cough syrup. Bitter, smoky, and deep.
Finish: Long and smoky with the peat embers going a long way, ash, soot, and more of the ripe orange notes, black tea as well.
Conclusion: A highly enjoyable and A CI in any aspect, everything you come to expect in such a young, smoky dram, with enough complexity.
Score: 87/100
Ledaig 15yo –distilled 05/10/2006 , single sherry butt #13 , 54.7%,£199
Nose: A thick melange of dried fruit in smokey syrup; Dates, plums, and prunes, with a lovely touch of rancio , old damp wood more smoke, some tobacco boxes, a bit musty. a real treat to sniff, with lovely complexity and layers of aromas on top of each other.
Palate: Thick and sweet with smoke, a bit of rubber on top of black tea, then the fruit comes through in the form of cherries, some salty influence as well, as well as tar, soot, and earth. Dirty enough, and fruity at times, the ashes and fruit combine beautifully.
Finish: Sweet marinated BBQ meats, a hint of salt and seaweed then going on on sweat peat and a hint of dried plum.
Conclusion: Excellent stuff, complex, more-ish. The sort of whiskies I can wholeheartedly recommend. Not cheap at £199 but so very good.