The Big Smoke 46 (Duncan Taylor)

Apparently I used to make a ton of "The Big Smoke" when I was in college and lived on West Kent Road in Duluth, MN. Little did I know I could have turned a hobby in to a money making venture. The nose on this bit of juice is a little like a medicine cabinet and a lot like a bonfire with 8 kegs at the intersection of Island Lake Road and nowhere. When this one hits your palate, you may not be able to place this taste exactly, but I can. I have had this before. When I lived over on The West Kent, I used to hold poker night at my house. This particular night I was playing with Tony and Big Tom. It must not have been my night, because Tony cleaned me out pretty quick. He then made me an offer to get back in the game. He said he would sponsor me $50 if I took a shot of bong water. I did. I also threw up right after. Then after I was done being a sally I sat back down at the poker table and turned that $50 in to $200. This particular dram tastes just like that bong water, just don't go expecting 200 bones to magically appear in your pocket.

A creamy, Blended Malt Whisky by Duncan Taylor & Co. in Islay, Scotland; the “46” refers to its 46% ABV. It has an aromatic birth with notes of a campfire put out by wet leaves, oak, almond, salt, vanilla, marzipan, crystallized citrus rinds & dried apple; while a full life adds notes of burnt caramel, malt, vanilla & prosciutto; that led to a creamy death of medium length with notes of sea-spray & wood ash. December 2020 / August 2022

Not sure why this has such a low rating - it’s a very solid peaty/smoky Scotch. Has all the hallmarks of an Islay/Islands Scotch - the smoke, the peat, the saline quality, etc. It really reminds me of Ledaig, so much so that I wonder if that’s a component of this blend.

The nose is subtly smokey with a hint of brine and oak. The palette starts off sweet (caramel) and fruity with smoke following behind. The brine is mellower on the palette. The finish leaves just the smokey notes, which actually intensify, but remain nicely smooth.

Nose - bandaids and iodine, some brine, brunt caramel, smoked almonds Palette - oily and thick, light campfire smoke, some rich caramel, light roasted almond notes Finish - lingering rich smoke, light bitterness on the tip of the tongue, medium burn

Flaviar Advent Calendar. Nose: smoke, ash, brine. Palate: mild sweetness, spicy, nutty. Very spicy long finish. More lagavulin smoke than bruichladdich/laphroaig/ardbeg. I enjoyed but wish I had more on the nose