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Scarabus Islay Single Malt Whisky

Nozinan Mystery Sample Series - #8

4 484

@NozinanReview by @Nozinan

29th Apr 2020

1

Scarabus Islay Single Malt Whisky
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    84

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Scarabus
  • ABV: 46%

This is the last of three mystery samples distributed by @Cricklewood for a zoom tasting that took place on April 5, 2019. We were asked to try them in advance of getting together, then we went through each of them together, and received the reveal.

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.


April 2, 2020 - In a Highland Whisky glass

Nose: 21/25

Sweet nose, dirty peat, syrup, white grape juice, more peat. Interesting nose.

Taste: 21/25

Thin mouthfeel. Very dry, peat-forward arrival. Sour in the development with pepper. Water helps to balance it out adding more fruit. (21.5/25))

Finish: 21/25

The finish is short and long. Short, in that the flavours fade. Long in that I feel like I continue to breath smoke. Hint of smoked salmon (lox) on exhale. Maybe some toasted sesame seed bagels.

Balance: 20.5/25

This is a peat bomb, less so on the nose and more on the palate. But it’s a little thin and the peat is overwhelming. Water balances it out a little. (21/25)

Score: Neat - 83.5/100 With Water: 84.5/100

Interesting whisky. The only other time I tasted lox in a whisky it was Bowmore. I don’t think this is CS, I would guess 46%.


In our Zoom tasting, some of the guesses included Caol Ila or Bunnahabhain.

I guess only the bottler knows for sure…

Thanks again @Cricklewood for setting this up!

4 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

A friend of mine had this one last year sometime and I can’t remember what his opinion was, but I’m thinking he was not overly impressed or inclined to buy it again. I didn’t get a taste, but I don’t think I would buy it based on his impressions and yours.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@BlueNote It's actually pretty decent, If you like feisty young peaters this one ticks off many of the boxes, it's very ashy and coastal. On par or better than some things Iike "The Ileach", "Finlaggan" or "Smokehead", this one has a proper ABV and some blending chops behind it. That said it's no surgical instrument, this is a big 'ole sledge

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

I liked this one more than @Nozinan but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. I enjoy feisty young peated malts. I’ve been told this is Caol Ila by several independent and credible sources.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@OdysseusUnbound I figured from the drop this might be your pick although that Kilkerran was quite interesting.

I've gotten the Caol Ila thing too. Makes sense since it's the only Islay that can be purchased in bulk and priced on a budget, it could be Bunna too but doesnt quite taste like it.

4 years ago 1Who liked this?