Medicinal Taste

[Rodrigo]

Hello.
I recently bought a bottle of Laphroaig 10yr. I like its taste, specially the peat, but there's a flavour in it that reminds me of the desinfectants used at the dentist, which doesn't really please me. I asume that's the so called medicinal taste I read about in some whisky reviews. Among the highly peated whiskys (Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg I assume) is there one not having that medicinal taste? According to flavour maps Lagavulin should be the one, but I remember reading someone saying it did have this medicinal taste. Sooner or later I will taste them all I asume, but for now I would rather leave the tastes I dislike to a side.
Thanks in advance

[bkblankenship]

Of the four Kildalton malts ( Port Ellen, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, & Ardbeg ), I think you will find that ARDBEG and PORT ELLEN do not have the medicinal nose and palate like the LAPHROAIG and LAGAVULIN. Editorial note: I LOVE them all; medicinal and all.

Aside from the being the heaviest peated malt on a continual basis ( not taking into consideration ARDBEG Supernova & BRUICHLADDICH Octomore ), ARDBEG weighs in at 55 PPM phenols. ARDBEG has the heavy smoke and burning embers; but instead of medicinal characteristics, ARDBEG has as its "signature" LOTS and LOTS of fruit. Pick up a bottle of 10-Year-Old, 46% ABV.

PORT ELLEN has a "signature" diesel fuel nose. Love it!! Love it!! Love it!!

[Rodrigo]

Thanks for the answer! Will get a 10yr Ardbeg then. By the way, Port Ellen stopped producing some years ago, right? Maybe I am confusing it with another distillery.

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo

Thanks for the answer! Will get a 10yr Ardbeg then. By the way, Port Ellen stopped producing some years ago, right? Maybe I am confusing it with another distillery.

Yes, the Port Ellen distillery closed in 1983. If you get the chance to buy a bottle of Port Ellen (and can afford it) then do so - it's a gem!

[Rodrigo]

Picked a bottle of Ardbeg 10yr today. It's fabulous. Peaty but not medicinal (at least not as in Laphroaig), fruity and really good. Really had an "Eureka" moment here.

Also bought a bottle of Edradour, wanted to try something woody and the shopkeeper recommended me that one along with Glenfarclas. Hopefully it is worth it.

By the way, concerning Port Ellen, he told me he heard the distillery was getting back to work or planning to do so. With some luck it isn't simply rumours.

[Jojo]

Rodrigo - the Port Ellen distillery was demolished in 1983 and a malting facility was built in its place - that's what I know. However, I can right to the source and get definite answer for you soon regarding whether there are plans to start producing once again.

[mikesven]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo

Picked a bottle of Ardbeg 10yr today. It's fabulous. Peaty but not medicinal (at least not as in Laphroaig), fruity and really good. Really had an "Eureka" moment here.

Also bought a bottle of Edradour, wanted to try something woody and the shopkeeper recommended me that one along with Glenfarclas. Hopefully it is worth it.

By the way, concerning Port Ellen, he told me he heard the distillery was getting back to work or planning to do so. With some luck it isn't simply rumours.

Back onto the topic of Port Ellen ... I was recently doing some browsing around on wikipedia, and there seems to be some mention on there of a new distillery in 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islay_whisky

Look about halfway down the page at the "Distilleries".