North Star Spirits Single Islay Malt 2008 (8 year old) 58.3%
Caol Ila matured in a Bourbon Hogshead and finished in two sherry octave casks.
Dist: Jun 2008 Btl: May 2017/ Tasted: Jun 2017
Subtle aromas of earthy and medicinal peat with a touch of crisp, white fruit, apricot and subtle peat smoke. Hints of barley and salt follow along with an intimation of dried sherry fruit. With time it becomes quite manurey with a late parma violet note.
The palate is quite full and oily with the alcohol being rather noticeable. However there is plenty of barley to counter along with some subtler peat smoke and medicinal herbs. Gentle dried fruit comes through on the middle with a touch of coffee’d oak. Lovely intense, tongue tingling herbal peat finish.
Water brings out the toasted oak and caramel. It also emphasises the delightful tangerine and apricot fruit as well as the barley. The medicinal notes are still there but the smoke is now just a background curtain. The palate is still fairly oily and like the nose displays more of the oak. The peat is also subtler and sootier and gently medicinal. Long and continuing sooty with lingering barley, malty and light violety notes.
North Star Spirits Islay 2005 (12 year old) 52.3%
Bourbon Hogshead (Laphraoig?)/ Dist: Sept 2005 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
The nose is fresh and lightly medicinal with relatively heavy peat character. Hints of manure, violets and salt follow. It becomes really stinky with time. Late notes of coffee, bog myrtle and sweet heather.
The palate opens quite sooty with a good, solid barley and oak character beneath. Lightly herbal and medicinal. Great intensity with hints of pepper, herbal peat and dried fruit. Long and salty with lingering herbal peat, along with dry, coffee’d tannins and a light bbq smoke.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 