This Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay was selected for a Malt Nuts event where we did a series of undisclosed Islays, but with enough research, dot connecting and free time you can suss out most things these days as is the case with this one. Failing that you can always resort to your own senses to compare, contrast and slowly figure it out. Both approaches are a lot of fun.
In Ian Macleod’s Words: Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay
“A well-respected brand in Scotland, these unique and quirky Highland and Islay single malt Scotch whiskies are made the old fashioned way. A ‘valuable’ addition to any whisky collection, ‘As We Get It’ is bottled straight from the cask in the traditional manner. Unchillfiltered for a richer, smoother taste, both whiskies’ color and strength change with each bottling, so no two bottlings are ever the same. Traditional packaging complements the ‘As We Get It’ theme.”
I haven’t tried the Highland they speak of on the site, but ever since I had this at the MN meeting I’ve been excited to sit down and do a proper Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay review; I’ve just been looking for a good time to do it. Let’s dig in!
Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Laphroaig
Bottler: Ian Macleod
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: NAS
ABV: 58.5%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: ?
Price: $65
Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay Review
EYE
Light yellow
NOSE
Salted caramel, waxy, meaty, smoky, spirity vanilla and a bit of malty sweetness. I’d be surprised if this was older than 3 years and a day.
PALATE
Honey, 7-UP, peat, seaweed, malt, wax, spirity vanilla and a bit of salted butter and spice. It’s a bit unruly and spirit driven at first, but softens up with air. Water doesn’t do much to change it.
FINISH
Long spirity finish of vanilla, peat, menthol, banana and “sweetness”.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not well balanced, thin body and feels oddly cold and watery.
OVERALL
Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay is an Islay single malt supposedly sourced from Laphroaig. It smells young with a spirity nature showing up and becomes even more so with water – so don’t add water. When I first opened this a year ago for a Malt Nuts event it was far more harsh and unruly; it’s softened with air and time.
We know young Islay whisky can be good, but Ian Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay is just a “meh”, at least this batch anyways. What batch is it you ask? Well, I’d love to tell you, but it’s not on their label so I have no idea. All I know is that it will “change with each bottling, so no two bottlings are ever the same”.
Sans any batch marking the only thing I can think of would be if the proof is different in different batches, but they could easily add barrels in the right ratio to keep the proof the same batch over batch. So who knows; if you pick up a bottle ofIan Macleod’s “As We Get It” Islay you could have a totally different experience than me.
SCORE: 78/100 (C+)
