Review
220
9/7/14
Duthies
Islay Blended Malt: 46% abv
Background: This
will mark a very distinctive review. This will be the first time reviewing a
bottle that actually was born in Scotland. What’s that mean? That means we
haven’t seen it in the US and we’re lucky to have the opportunity to sit down
and review this one. So Duthies is part of Cadenhead’s, an independent bottler
that does 46%, non-chill filtered whiskies. Classic Cadenhead’s whiskies are
cask strength, so this is a little less big and bad. That being said, Cadenhead’s
doesn’t really do anything to tell us what’s in the whisky…or anything about
the barrel…really anything at all. They do tell us it is a natural color,
non-chill filtered, 46% Islay blend of single malts, and frankly, that’s good
enough.
Straight
Nose: Well
the Islay branding doesn’t disappoint, because the classic peat aroma in the
nose is very prevalent. Don’t worry though, a balance of sweetness, fruitiness,
and delicate grains also contribute to a very equalized whisky. You will find
sweet apple and grapes on the nose, sugary by nature, and a good, rich malt to
balance it out. Some oil and leather also come out in the nose, with a rich
smoky wood smell in the foreground. Oddly enough, you’ll see that there is a
light smell of chlorine in the whisky, followed by a little bit of rubber. There
is definitely floral notes in the whisky too, with rose water being a major
factor.
Arrival: The
arrival starts off with a very oily, peaty blast of flavor. There is no end to
saltiness, brine, and thick smoke. The arrival starts off with a pretty tangy,
citrus lemon flavor, that transforms into a pretty bold orange flavor which
transfers into the body. There is a bulk of sweet barley and honey in the
arrival as well. Hot spices are also a big part of the arrival. The whisky has
a little bit of cane sugar that couples with the rest of the complexities.
Body: There
is a noticeable contribution of mint to the body of flavor. The body keeps the
malt and saltiness intact, with a beautiful smokiness that accentuates the
whisky. The cane sugar flavor sticks around for the body. There is a deep oak
flavor in the body and finish.
Finish: The
finish is extremely dry, with sustained saltiness, bold spices, and a steady
dose of peat. The mint that was noticed before in the body is still present in
the finish. The finish is also relatively savory and has a hint of tobacco
smoke to it. Residual oak is noticeable as the finish subsides.
With Water
Nose: Some
black peppercorn and creaminess is actually opening up in the whisky now. The
smoke is definitely bigger in the nose. There is a bit of a candy-like smell
that the water is starting to bring out. There is a different kind of wood that
is coming through as well, potentially cedar, as well as a smell of fresh
sawdust.
Arrival:
The arrival is still a bit tart, with intense sweetness and fruitiness.
There is some definite citrus still in the arrival. The salt is still big, with
some bitter spices and mintiness.
Body: The
mint in the body is much bigger, with a lot of salt, and a subtly of pineapple
and other bitter fruits.
Finish: Still
a salt monster, the finish gives off bitter oak and smokiness. It is very
similar to how it was before, with a bit of honey. The sweetness has dialed
down, and the smoke doesn’t last very long. The finish doesn’t sustain the same
way as it did before water.
Final Comments: Is
this worth your time should you run across it? Absolutely. The peated whisky
market is fashionable and booming right now, and because of that prices are
kind of getting a little bit scary. What this does as a result is allows for
somebody to buy a good quality blended malt whisky without any major branding
schemes or marketing nonsense inflating the price of the whiskies quality. This
won’t be the earthshattering, complex whisky you might find in other bottles,
but that’s okay. For the price, it is a good way of enjoy your liquid smoke
without having another mortgage.
Why you’d buy it: You
like peat in classic fashion without needing to know who’s giving it to you.
Why you wouldn’t: NOTHING
is better than Lagavulin *adjusts monocle*
Score: 8.5/10
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