ABV: 63.5 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a savory peatiness in the center surrounded by honey, vanilla and oak. It’s quite approachable even though it has a high ABV. There’s a spicy layer on top with menthol and iodine. The peatiness meets the oakiness in a warm burning campfire somewhere in between. There’s also a herbal side to the whole as well as a dark chocolate. This is not especially complex, but it balances the virgin oak and the peat very well, This is a very good nose which really feels older than its 3 years.

Mouth: It starts out with an ashy outer layer and a chili spicyness. Underneath lies a mix of dark chocolate, savory peat and oak. There are notes of vanilla and honey, but it’s not as sweet as on the nose. There’s a maltiness moving along nicely throughout as well. After a few seconds the oakiness starts to push through, but the high ABV is really helping the other flavours along until it gets too overwhelming. There’s no fruitiness coming through at all. It feels very young at this point which brings it down a notch.

Finish: The spicyness spreads out over the palate and it’s a very powerful transition. When it settles there are notes of black liquorice, dark chocolate and a herbal oakiness. When the power subsides it becomes more bitter in the background and a miniscule grapefruit note shows up far away from the spotlight. There’s a charcoal note in the middle and the peat has now moved out towards the edges. The late finish is all about the virgin oak casks though. This is a very good whisky with a lot more to offer than percieved by the young age. It’s not the easiest whisky to approach, but for those who can take the heat, there’s a lot to offer.

Additional information
This whisky was aged for 3 years in virgin european limousin oak casks. The PPM value is 88. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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