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Hogsworth The 15 ‘High Islay’ Review

What happens when bourbon meets Armagnac aged in Islay Scotch casks? Hogsworth The 15 High Islay delivers a smoky, fruity answer that's as compelling as it is unique.

OVERALL RATING

7
$209
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Hogsworth – from Raj Bhakta – has unveiled “The 15,” a new cask strength collection featuring 15-year average age spirits available in three formats. The release includes H.W.’s Master Blend, a High Hog 3-Pack, and a Private Barrel Program exclusive to select retailers. “The 15 signals the start of Hogsworth’s next chapter,” the company stated in its announcement.

Building on the Master Blend, The 15 High Hog 3-Pack showcases three distinct profiles. The collection includes a sweeter High Corn variant, a spicier High Rye expression, and a smokier High Islay bottling. This trio retails for $195 for three 750ml bottles.

This review is for the “High Islay” recipe and features a unique blend of aged bourbon and Armagnac. This is another evolution for Bhakta spirits and their foray into Armagnac/Bourbon blends. It is an interesting pairing as I noted in my Hogsworth The 10 review. I believe there is a lot of merit here and am excited to see where this goes. This obtains the “High Islay” element from the fact the Armagnac was aged in an Islay Scotch cask.

Vital Stats:
Blend is 53% Bourbon and 47% Armagnac
18% 6 Minnesota Bourbon
15% 5 year 9 month Tennessee Bourbon
20% 5 year Tennessee Bourbon

24% 11 year French Armagnac
23% 23 year French Armagnac (aged in Islay Cask)
Appearance:
Dark orange with slow legs
Nose:
Hint of smoke (softer than anticipated) with orange peel or similar sweet citrus. The nose gives way to some floral notes like bright spring flowers, there are almonds, plumbs, lightly perfumy, before ending with candied cherries.
Palate:
peaty but cloaked in ripe fruit, tobacco and nutmeg with just a dash of cinnamon. Dried fruits of apricots and blueberries. There is a dense breadyness with just a hint of sweetness before giving way to some pepper and faint oak.
Finish:
Oily mouthfeel with nice longevity. The finish is of smoke and leather with a pleasant undercurrent of sweetness of aged wine and red grapes.
Comments:
I found this one to be a lot of fun while also a little perplexing. The Armagnac is aged in Islay cask, which is very interesting, but the youth of the whiskey conflicted with that profile. I enjoyed this very much and think it is very interesting to a consumer but at the same time I wanted to experience more of the Armagnac. Overall very compelling profile and experience. You’ll like this if you like having something just a little different on the shelf.

Overall the three Hogsworth’s are very fun. Each stands alone and provides a fun exploration into the possibilities of whiskey and Armagnac and I think Bhakta is after a different market space. I look forward to the new products and explorations from this brand.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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