Jack's Pirate Whisky Das gestohlene Shiff Part VII

Pirate whisky? The Stolen Ship? What is that alla bout? Jack Wiebers – who used to be popstar Michael Jackson’s European booking agent in a previous life, I kid you not – has quite a few of these undisclosed malts on the market. This Part VII, of which I was able to secure a sample, turned out to be a very pale Ileach. Most people claims this is Lagavulin. Let’s find out! Plasticine, cooked ham that is turning bad, lime juice and cold ashes of charcoal. I know, it does not sound great but in fact this is a very pleasant nose. Very minerally with a big smokiness. Lagavulin? Could be, but it might as well be a nice Laffie or even Caol Ila. Maybe even a mix, who can tell? Despite the high ABV, this one does not need water. It offers smoke again, sweet peat with loads of medicinal touches and a salty edge, but there is also some fruit underneath. Think apples of the Golden Delicious variety. Well, one apple in a sea of maritime elements and loads of spices. White pepper, salt, ginger, ginseng and oyster sap. I am leaning more and more towards Laffie and Caol Ila, I must say. The finish is very long, very peaty and salty. It is weird how your mood in influenced up front by name and packaging (well, in my case anyway). I was not expecting a great malt, but how wrong I was! I don’t care what’s inside (my guess is still a vatting of Laffie and Caol Ila), this pirate is cruelly good! Thx, Marc.