Can't Win 'em All
Irradiated by Stingray
I do love me some scotch. The overwhelming oak flavor in Ardbeg, the slight hint of salt in Oban, the liquid smoke they pour in by the gallon in Laphroaig…it’s pretty much all good stuff, and broadly speaking, I’m a fan.
Except for Finlaggan. Finlaggan is an Islay single malt, which makes this all the odder, as normally Islay is my favorite region for scotch. I’d tell you what the bible says about it, but (perhaps tellingly) Mr. Jackson did not include this particular distillery. Google’s results are spotty. Seeing as I’ll most likely never visit Scotland, I’m less concerned with information about the where, how, why, and history of a distillery (beyond the factors that affect flavor, obviously), so we’ll let that slide and get down to the meat and peat of the matter.
My particular bottle does not list an age (something that should’ve warned me away before reaching for my wallet). As I recall, my selection process at the store was “I don’t think I’ve tried this one yet, and it’s not too badly priced. What the hell.” The color is a nice medium caramel shade, somewhat darker than Oban but lighter than Jack Daniels. The initial flavors are a pleasant peatiness, which morphs into caramel notes. The problem arises with the finish. As the caramel note spreads over your palate, it evolves into what I’d have to say are overtones of sulpher. It doesn’t go so far as to bring rotten eggs to mind, thankfully, but it does linger up in the sinuses. The combination of that and the lingering sweetness of the caramel flavors brings nothing to mind so much as walking through a swamp and getting a big face full of that sickish-sweet smelling decay. The initial flavors are delicious, and I’d rate them highly were they the only ones, but when you half consider a chaser of some form to get the aftertaste out, that isn’t exactly what I’d consider a ringing endorsement of a drink intended to be sipped and savored.
I’ll probably finish the bottle someday. Most likely it’ll sit among its liquid betters waiting moments when we have scotch drinking guests for the purpose of “Here, taste this and tell me I’m not nuts.” Mayhaps I’ll have a dram or two should I somehow run out of everything better. What I won’t be doing, however, is replacing it when it finally does empty out.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Or just give it to an onramp bum on Christmas day …
October 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Dinner tonight was a burger and Talisker straight up, water chaser, at the local pub. A wonderful balance of spicy, smooth and smoky.
Want. More.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I’ll drink scotch when the world runs out of real liquor.
“The initial flavors are a pleasant peatiness, which morphs into caramel notes.”
WTF!
It tastes like dirt and burnt sugar?
Did you ever see that scene from Mr. Roberts? WW II sailors are trying to make something that tastes like scotch. They take grain alcohol and add iodine and hair tonic.
Seems about right to me.
Or, to quote for a more recent movie, “I fuckin’ hate scotch”
October 29th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I’m with DQ on this one. All my Scottish ancestors may be rolling in their peaty graves, but I’ve just got New World tastes. Gimme them Kentucky Corn Squeezin’s anytime.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Scotch is the epitome of alcohol consumption. Nuff said.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:56 am
I’m rather fond of The Balvenie. The double wood 12 is some of the smoothest scotch I’ve ever tasted.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I like the Balvenie too, but the friend who’s teaching me to appreciate scotch sez it’s foo-foo girlie stuff and I need to move on. The Talisker is a nice step up to the meatier, peatier stuff that I still don’t really appreciate.
IME Learning to drink scotch is a lot like learning to drink good wine. An interesting, enjoyable and, sadly - expensive social activity. If I was smart I’d stay away from it, I’ve already screwed myself up by acquiring a taste for spendy red wines.
Hobbies like this are why I have a house full of ‘dog-friendly’ rugs and furniture and wear ratty clothes.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Islays are the devil. Salty peat bog bad.
Now, say, Glenlivet Nadurra…
October 30th, 2009 at 7:15 am
That’s one of the downsides of trying new bottles. It’s pretty easy to justify the expense of a new single malt with the rationalization that “Well, I only drink it an ounce or so at a time, and I really sip it, so it’ll last a long time.” If it’s bad, it can last a really long time. I’ve had the Finlaggen, but for the life of me can’t recall anything about it.
Smartdogs- If Balvenie Double Wood is too girlie, then I’ll just cock my little finger while sipping it. Oban might bit a good bit more accessible to your palate than Talisker.
Scotch is an expensive habit, but oh, so much fun to indulge.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
If I’m going to drink Scotch, and I don’t often, I drink Dalwhinnie; a Scotch my wife was turned onto at a Highland Games several years ago.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I must agree that Talisker is the best scotch I have tasted.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:30 am
Is Johnny Walker considered “real” scotch?
If so, Scotch is pretty shitty.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:26 pm
seeks: That’s like drinking a can of mass produced beer and then calling all beer bad.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 am
Fair enough. I may have to look into some of the aforementioned brands, in that case.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I’m not a scotch drinker. But my step-father is, and he absolutely loved some “scotch” I gave him last year. I use the quotes because it’s the only single-malt made in North America. Check out the Glenora Distillery (http://www.glenoradistillery.com/)
You don’t have to actually go to Canada to get it. But you do have to at least venture into Blue-state territory.
http://www.glenoradistillery.com/glenbreton.htm#availability
I did happen to stumble across some scotch (or maybe it was whiskey overall) guide between planning the trip to Nova Scotia and actually going. The Glen Breton Rare was something around the mid 80s on a 100 point scale.