Quest for Smoke

Evening, drinkers of this fine spirit!

I grew up with the smell of my father's favourite whisky, the Laphroaig 12, and always loved its distinct 'smoke & tar'-aroma. Some time ago I started to explore the world of whisky myself, and immediately found a quest: find the smokiest of whiskies.

I've heard that Laphroaig is quite far up the smoke road, together with Lagavulin 16 and Macleods 8. I do appreciate recommendations of really smoky single malts, but I really look for THE smokiest of whiskies, with so much smoke and tar that it tastes like you burned an old shipyard and bottled it!

Thanks.

Try the Ardberg 10. I've heard that it have a strong scent of burning paper. I hope you'd like it.

[Jojo]

I'd say Ardbeg too - try Airigh Nam Beist. I noted it's very smoky, peppery with a spicy finish. Here are the actual tasting notes from Ardbeg: The colour of gold, its nose is smoky with fennel and pine nuts. Hints of ice cream and zesty limes are present. The taste starts peppery with smoky bacon and barbeque spices, an oily mouthfeel, then the sweetness of maple syrup and some vanilla. The finish is zesty and smoky. Also, try Ardbeg Uigeadail - I haven't had it (yet), but it has very good reviews. Let us know what you decide!

[Soundmangt4]

Another vote for the Ardbeg. I have the Uigeadail and it is a very smoky dram indeed, but with a nice sherry edge. Even though it's a sherry finished cask strength malt, the sweetness is more on the early palette rather than the finish, as the smoke just overtakes the sherry and it ends with a very savoury smoke finish like smoked bacon!

[blenderm]

I don't know how your father drank Laphroaig 12yo as they only bottle at 10yo. If you really want peat then try either the Laphroaig 1/4 Cask or the 10yo Cask Strength

[Gary Wells]

Originally Posted by blenderm

I don't know how your father drank Laphroaig 12yo as they only bottle at 10yo. If you really want peat then try either the Laphroaig 1/4 Cask or the 10yo Cask Strength

Maybe they only bottle a 10 YO now, but that doesn't mean that they never bottled a 12 YO, and maybe it is something that is not commonly and / or readily available. There's about a few thousand hits for it on the internet so I would not say that it doesn't exist.

[blenderm]

I reckon you'll find that that the distillery only bottles 10yo and that the 12yo is bottled by an independant bottler.

[Theus]

Octomore from Bruichladdich are very peaty!

I've heard they made a 152 ppm whisky.

Theus

[bkblankenship]

Originally Posted by Marco

Evening, drinkers of this fine spirit!

I grew up with the smell of my father's favourite whisky, the Laphroaig 12, and always loved its distinct 'smoke & tar'-aroma. Some time ago I started to explore the world of whisky myself, and immediately found a quest: find the smokiest of whiskies.

I've heard that Laphroaig is quite far up the smoke road, together with Lagavulin 16 and Macleods 8. I do appreciate recommendations of really smoky single malts, but I really look for THE smokiest of whiskies, with so much smoke and tar that it tastes like you burned an old shipyard and bottled it!

Thanks.

Hi,

For burning embers, ARDBEG 10YO will do the trick. For standard bottlings of Islay malts, ARDBEG is the most highly peated at 55 PPM Phenols. ARDBEG does bottle the special release SUPERNOVA at 100 PPM Phenols. LAPHROAIG is peated at 40-43 PPM Phenols, BOWMORE at 20-25 PPM, LAGAVULIN at 35-40 PPM, CAOL ILA 30-35 PPM, and BRUICHLADDICH standard bottlings at 3-4 PPM ( formerly 8 PPM ). Since its reopening BRUICHLADDICH has released heavily peated malts; BRUICHLADDICH Peat with a phenol level at 35 PPM and they have also released 4 cask strength expressions of PORT CHARLOTTE PC5, PC6, PC7
and PC8 ( designating the age of the malt ) all of which were peated at 40 PPM Phenols. BRUICHLADDICH has just released a fifth PORT CHARLOTTE at 46% ABV named An Turas Mor - Gaelic for The Great Journey. BRUICHLADDICH has also experimented and released 4 bottlings of OCTOMORE. The OCTOMORE bottling of FUTURES was peated at 80.5 PPM Phenols, OCTOMORE 2.1 and 2.2 releases peated at 140 PPM each and the newest release peated at 152 PPM Phenols. BUNNAHABHAIN is the lightest peated of all Islay malts. It's standard bottling is peated at 1-2 PPM Phenols but in 1997 BUNNAHABHAIN began experimenting and have released some special bottlings, releasing the MOINE ( Scottish Gaelic for PEAT and pronounced MONA as in MONA LISA ) for one of the annual FEIS ILE and have also sold casks to independent bottlers; one being SIGNATORY. This malt was peated at 38 PPM. I have not been able to find the phenol level of the newest Islay malt; KILCHOMAN ( pronounced KIL-HOMAN; the C is silent ) but will post once I find the info. There have been several highland distilleries that have high phenol levels and have bottled. Most notably is BENRIACH Curiositos and a cask strength bottling and a non-cask strength by SIGNATORY; followed by EDRADOUR'S bottling of BALLECHIN, and TOMINTOUL'S bottling of BALLANTRUAN. CAPERDONICH heavily peated malt can be found in independent bottlings, specifically bottled by THE SINGLE MALTS of SCOTLAND ( Specialty Drinks ).

One more note: You mentioned Macleods 8-Year-Old; Macleods 8-Year-Old ISLAY happens to be LAGAVULIN. Thought you might like to know.

[Gary Wells]

Originally Posted by blenderm

I reckon you'll find that that the distillery only bottles 10yo and that the 12yo is bottled by an independant bottler.

Thanks for the correction. I was unaware of that.

[bkblankenship]

Originally Posted by bkblankenship

Hi,

For burning embers, ARDBEG 10YO will do the trick. For standard bottlings of Islay malts, ARDBEG is the most highly peated at 55 PPM Phenols. ARDBEG does bottle the special release SUPERNOVA at 100 PPM Phenols. LAPHROAIG is peated at 40-43 PPM Phenols, BOWMORE at 20-25 PPM, LAGAVULIN at 35-40 PPM, CAOL ILA 30-35 PPM, and BRUICHLADDICH standard bottlings at 3-4 PPM ( formerly 8 PPM ). Since its reopening BRUICHLADDICH has released heavily peated malts; BRUICHLADDICH Peat with a phenol level at 35 PPM and they have also released 4 cask strength expressions of PORT CHARLOTTE PC5, PC6, PC7
and PC8 ( designating the age of the malt ) all of which were peated at 40 PPM Phenols. BRUICHLADDICH has just released a fifth PORT CHARLOTTE at 46% ABV named An Turas Mor - Gaelic for The Great Journey. BRUICHLADDICH has also experimented and released 4 bottlings of OCTOMORE. The OCTOMORE bottling of FUTURES was peated at 80.5 PPM Phenols, OCTOMORE 2.1 and 2.2 releases peated at 140 PPM each and the newest release peated at 152 PPM Phenols. BUNNAHABHAIN is the lightest peated of all Islay malts. It's standard bottling is peated at 1-2 PPM Phenols but in 1997 BUNNAHABHAIN began experimenting and have released some special bottlings, releasing the MOINE ( Scottish Gaelic for PEAT and pronounced MONA as in MONA LISA ) for one of the annual FEIS ILE and have also sold casks to independent bottlers; one being SIGNATORY. This malt was peated at 38 PPM. I have not been able to find the phenol level of the newest Islay malt; KILCHOMAN ( pronounced KIL-HOMAN; the C is silent ) but will post once I find the info. There have been several highland distilleries that have high phenol levels and have bottled. Most notably is BENRIACH Curiositos and a cask strength bottling and a non-cask strength by SIGNATORY; followed by EDRADOUR'S bottling of BALLECHIN, and TOMINTOUL'S bottling of BALLANTRUAN. CAPERDONICH heavily peated malt can be found in independent bottlings, specifically bottled by THE SINGLE MALTS of SCOTLAND ( Specialty Drinks ).

One more note: You mentioned Macleods 8-Year-Old; Macleods 8-Year-Old ISLAY happens to be LAGAVULIN. Thought you might like to know.

Hi,

As mentioned in my above posting from a few weeks ago, I stated I would find out the PEATING LEVEL of KILCHOMAN. Well, I have finally found out. I received the following information directly from the distillery. ALL RELEASES thus far have been at 50 PPM PHENOLS. The other PEATING LEVEL is 30 -35 PPM PHENOLS which is peated using 100% Islay barley and is peated on premises and no bottlings to date have been released at this phenol level.

Thank you all for the astonishing input!

I will save and keep this list of fine, peaty drams for future whisky exploration. First on my list will be the Ardbeg 10, which a friend of mine gave me the pleasure to taste. I do dream of tasting the Ardbeg Supernova and the Bruichladdich Octomore, though they are 'out of my reach' for the time being.

What a debate you got going around the Laphroaig! I do have to admit you came up with a great explanation to my little typo, as I did referr to the Laphroaig 10. I actually wait for the right occation to break the seal on the Laphroaig 10 my brother gave me as a graduation present, my first very own Islay

Special thanks to bkblankenship for the thourugh and detailed reply, I am truly amazed by the vast reserves of knowledge that exist on the topic. Also, my friend will be baffled when he learns the background of his Macleods 8!

If any one of you have the time to explain the ppm-scale a bit more, I would be thankful. Knowledge is Fun!

Cheers!
Marco Witt

[newwhiskyworld]

I recently had a Signatory bottling of Laphroaig - no age statement but listed as a 2000 Vintage. Its from a refill butt so less chance fo teh wood taking over that incredible Laphroaig smoke. Wow - far more smoke than the distillery bottlings. Definatley one to reccomend.

You can also track down Smoke Head - does exactly what is says on the bottle.

Jonny,

[TheEtherMan]

Pick up a bottle of plain old Ardbeg 10 and a Laphroaig 10 yr old cask strength. You'll never be the same again. They define Islay smoke and peat.
Cheers!

[HP12]

Originally Posted by blenderm

I don't know how your father drank Laphroaig 12yo as they only bottle at 10yo. If you really want peat then try either the Laphroaig 1/4 Cask or the 10yo Cask Strength

Originally Posted by blenderm

I reckon you'll find that that the distillery only bottles 10yo and that the 12yo is bottled by an independant bottler.

FWIW I stumbled across this Laphroaig 12yo ---> http://www.connosr.com/whisky/islay/...4-12-year-old/

[Islay Peat]

Originally Posted by Jojo

I'd say Ardbeg too - try Airigh Nam Beist. I noted it's very smoky, peppery with a spicy finish. Here are the actual tasting notes from Ardbeg: The colour of gold, its nose is smoky with fennel and pine nuts. Hints of ice cream and zesty limes are present. The taste starts peppery with smoky bacon and barbeque spices, an oily mouthfeel, then the sweetness of maple syrup and some vanilla. The finish is zesty and smoky. Also, try Ardbeg Uigeadail - I haven't had it (yet), but it has very good reviews. Let us know what you decide!

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist and Corryvreckan were two that have so far eluded me and I hope I get to try both of them sooner rather than later. With their siblings, 10 year and Uigeadail occupying two of the top spots on my preferences list the other two won't let me rest until I try them. Just a little trepidation here, as I was very put off by the Galileo.

My other main smoky preferences are Laphroaig 10 and Quarter Cask, both beating out Cask Strength, Triple Wood and 18 year for my recently acquired tastes in single malts.

[Dale]

I think it flies a little under the radar, given its youth, but I'm very much enjoying the Kilchoman bottlings I've had. Recently, a customer brought me from Japan a single cask, cask strength bottling done for the 2012 Tokyo Bar show. Even at 60%+ alcohol the bottling was very balanced. It is a tamer Laphroaig, though plenty peaty. I can't wait to see older expressions as time goes by.

[Islay Peat]

Okay, so Kilchoman is another to watch out for. I like the single cask bottlings available only at the Japanese distilleries, and I'm glad I grabbed a couple, although now I'm hesitant to open them.

Soon enough though...

[itvanpusi]

New member here! I just bought some smokiness! Octomore 5.1 at 169 ppm phenols and Smokehead Rock edition. Excited to try them both..although i am tempted to keep the octomore as a permanent part of the collection.