Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Hunter Laing & Company
Average price: € 47.00
Official website: hunterlaing.com
Vote: 84/100
Launched at the 2019 Fèis Ìle, an annual festival held on the island of Islay, this bottling comes from an unknown local distillery, wanting to embody its peaty spirit without tying it to this or that brand.
The name originates from a mystical area of Islay dating back to the 13th century, translating as ‘rocky place’ from the ancient Norse dialect, while the precious label is inspired by the works of John Francis Campbell, a local native.
Of course, rumours abound as to which distillery the whisky comes from, some say it starts with L (and then there are very few candidates), but it doesn’t really matter, it’s the content and the skill of the people who chose it that counts.
Tasting notes
Pale gold in the glass.
Nose of fleshy, acrid peat, with iron and medicinal highlights, which blends with notes of orange, melon, cloves and caramel. Undertones of leather and Caribbean cigar tobacco. Pungent.
The palate is gentler than expected, with a peppery flicker that rises from the sweet and fruity aromas on the nose, while the peat turns savoury and marine on the iron and medicinal core. Liquorice and bitter cacao join the group, lying on a spicy bed of cloves and rhubarb, with a touch of leather roughness in the background.
Medium-long finish, iron and salty, of liquorice, ash, orange and spice.
A pleasant and undemanding dram, which in spite of its simplicity offers a complete experience for peat enthusiasts, perhaps a good way to get closer to the scents of Islay without having to ask many questions about exactly where you are.
Reviews of Hunter Laing whisky in the blog
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Malt Review