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Ian Macleod - The Six Isles

Young vatting

0 1070

@FrostReview by @Frost

13th Mar 2016

0

  • Nose
    17
  • Taste
    18
  • Finish
    17
  • Balance
    18
  • Overall
    70

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I didn't really pay attention to this bottle when I first saw it. To start with it's a tin and one dent makes it bothersome to store and something about the artwork didn't grab me. Later, when I realised it was a vatting from the six whisky Islands of Scotland (Islay, Jura, Skye, Mull, Orkney and Arran ), I was excited. I'm fond of the Island expressions (polarised on Jura though...) and was keen to see if six styles can be captured in one bottle.

The colour is very pale (no artificial colouring), like watered down apple juice for babies - not that you should take that as an endorsement to liquor up your babies.

Nose: Peat, a Highland Park/Talisker/Islay peat, honey, sea salt, bacon, ushering through the peat and the Highland Park dominates and comes to the forefront.

Taste: Oily, honey, salt

Finish: Peat on the finish, lingering longer with citrus on the back of the tongue

The highlight of this whisky is the nose and finish. The taste itself is lost between the nosing and finish and is somewhat reserved. If this is what vatting young single malts produce, then why are more bottlers not doing this? My first impressions are strong.

Good start? That's about to change.

I let the bottle sit for 48 hours and make the following notes:

Nose: Honey, sea salt, grassy

Taste: Oily, white pepper, honey, butter, salt

Finish: Salt, the peat has reduced to a quarter of its previous strength and makes for a short finish lacking in depth

Is this the same bottle? The profile has shifted and not for the best. The peat and Highland Park nose is gone. The taste is almost the same. It’s the nose and finish that has changed drastically and makes it flat and lacking in complexity. This is a bland and subdued imitation of its former self.

Previously I tried a sample of this expression in a store and it lacked the peaty nose and finish. As I have had a repeat of this experience I suspect this is a result of oxidisation. It's not offensive, it's nice, and it lost what made it strong.

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10 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

That is an interesting and weird story. Makes me want to taste it. Too bad the island tour didn't work out too well.

Thanks for a very informative review, @Frost!

8 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

I'm interested to get your experience @Victor, or any other Connosr members, on this expression.

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

I had a bottle of the Pomerol finish a few years ago and it was excellent. Simultaneously zippy and rich. I've been trying to find another ever since.

If you're a fan of, say, Talisker DE, you should pick it up if ever another is to be found out there.

8 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

@OlJas I read your review before I posted my one. Your bottle sounds pretty interesting.

8 years ago 0

@NAV26
NAV26 commented

Very good blendes malt. I have been enjoying this one alot over the last week. It makes a mean highball 1 part SI 2 parts schwepps soda and a twist of grapefruit. Neat I get à mon of Bowmore, highland park and Arran.

7 years ago 0

@cherylnifer
cherylnifer commented

While it is too bad this particular Ian MacLeod bottle changed for the worse I n you, I would encourage you to try both of their Isle of Skye 8yo (a young Highland Park 12yo) substitute and the even better Isle of Skye 12yo. I think you will be pleased.

7 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

@NAV26 maybe my bottle could have been saved by adding a dram or two of a Bowmore and Highland Park to beef it up.

@cherylnifer I'm not put off to try other Ian MacLeod expressions, I'll see what else is around here. There is an isle of Skye 12 year available here.

7 years ago 0

@NAV26
NAV26 commented

Interesting, I have Isle of Skye 12 open and i prefer my bottle of six isles. Maybe there is some batch variation?

7 years ago 0

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

I'm taking this as an endorsement to liquor up my babies.

6 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

LOL @MadSingleMalt !

By all means - in 18-21 years pending your region

6 years ago 0

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