Wemyss Vintage Malts, ‘Smoke on the Water’ 1982 (31 year old) 46%
Coal Ila. Dist: 1982 Btl: 2013
Tasted: Apr 2015
Nose: Quite fresh and briny but beneath oily apricot, orange and barley notes can be discerned. Gentle, phenolic peat smoke and hints of parma violets appear and with time a touch of tar. However the citric, briny freshness balances and enhances the freshness of the aromas.
Palate: Oilier and a little denser than the nose with more toffee’d oak and barley, which impedes the fresher citric elements somewhat. Hints of coffee appears and some briny notes eventually muscle their way through.
Finish: Very long and very briny with a touch of ‘back of the throat’ spices! Lingering violet tinged peat smoke. Superb finish.
Conclusion: I love that Bowmore-esque parma violet character and I really love that finish. If only there was a little less oak on the palate then this would be in the running for whisky of the month!
Wemyss Vintage Malts Single Cask Release ‘The Admirals Beacon’ 1980 (35 year old) 46%
Dist: 1980 Btl: 2015
Tasted: June 2016
Nose: Dusty and venerable with perfumed parma violets, sooty, sweet peat and fragrant Islay fruit. Seriously weighty with a subtle coastal note adding a freshening element. With time hints of orange rind, liquorice and very subtle but creamy oak.
Palate: Beautifully mature and tropical with hints of sweet orange, melon, barley, brine and a distant echo of wonderfully sweet peat. Majestic and elegant with a lightly salted middle.
Finish: Long and salty with lingering parma violets, barley and coastal saturated dusty fruit.
Conclusion: This is testament to how well Islay malts can age. Absolutely gorgeous and probably quite expensive!
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 