Early May in Nurnberg can be glorious – everything goes from grey to green, the sun often comes out, long days, warm but not sweltering. Whisky sipping is still possible, just veers more towards brighter, lighter styles away from heavy peats or dense sherries.
By a remarkable coincidence, a tasting companion brought a Six Isles Port expression to our evening, along with a 20 ml sample from an Advent Calendar. One sample alone was insufficient for a tasting… that was when I remembered I had the same Advent Calendar with another sample and also one from my Canada stash too! And this is how we had sufficient to try both the original and Port finish!
For those unfamiliar with this blend, The Six Isles celebrates Scottish island whiskies, embracing the maritime sensibility with light peat. The distilleries are fairly clear from most of the Islands via their descriptions:
- Arran brings harmony with its Lochranza distillery
- Jura distinctiveness – obviously Jura!
- Mull is dramatic and colourful in its landscape and harbour – Tobermoray / Ledaig
- Skye is a land of mountain ranges, rugged characterful – Talisker
- Orkney in the far north with honey, wood smoke – Highland Park (likely not the Scapa)
- Islay brings the wisp of peat smoke, with the distillery a mystery
This is a “pure” or “blended malt” with no grain whisky. Below is a picture of their old label for the standard expression…
The Six Isles 46%
- Nose – Aromatic smoke, gentle, clear maritime stamp with the spray of sea salt – one taster even found a bit of Agave!
- Palate – Whilst most enjoyable, it is a bit “light’ or superficial, missing a bit of depth
- Finish – Short yet entirely pleasant
Overall, we pronounced it a good blend – the peat tobacco was light, keeping this more in the vein of a summer dram than one reserved for a cold winter day.
One tasting companion quipped, “It arrives like an Arran and leaves like an Islay“.
Six Isles Port Finish 48%
- Nose – Similar vein as the standard, yet with more substance… a hint of port in the aromas, yet quite subtle… some fruit, a bit of vanilla
- Palate – Caramelised bacon, very sweet and fruity – a bit citrusy with melons too, more pronounced tobacco as well
- Finish – A nice cinnamon peat on the finish
We found this sharper with more depth than the standard expression. The extra 2% strength likely added to its character – everything had just a dash more “Ooomph!”
Here’s what they have to say about their Port finish:
- Nose: Fragrant smoke, orange peel and cranberry, bonoffee tart and fresh dill
- Palate: Red fruits and cream, a hint of vanilla, watermelon, grapefruit and soft peat smoke
- Finish: Short, crisp and sweet with a mild lingering peat
After reading their tasting notes, I would tend to agree! Above all – what fun to compare these two expressions side by side!
PS – Both the Port expression and photos come courtesy of a Nurnberg International Whisky Explorers club!
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