Origin: Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added colouring: Yes
Owner: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company Ltd.
Average price: € 40.00
Official website: www.vintagemaltwhisky.com
Peat lovers certainly have no shortage of opportunities to indulge their palates with the smoky notes of Scottish whiskies, thanks above all to a wide range of independent bottlings which, behind evocative names such as Smokehead or Mr. Peat, conceal whiskies from distilleries that are careful not to reveal their names.
Needless to say, Islay is the preferred home of these IBs, which are often low-cost, such as The Ileach, and today I am tasting its sibling from the same property, also from the so-called “low end” side of the market.
The name comes from the ruins of Finlaggan Castle on the lake of the same name, where the Lord of the Isle lived, while the brand was created in the 1990s and presented as a small batch, an expression that is notoriously almost meaningless, with the main bottling being accompanied by various editions, including a cask strength one and various finishes including port, sherry and wine.
The ageing casks are not declared (but can be presumed), obviously NAS and, given the minimum alcohol content, with all the necessary manipulations.
Jim Murray liked it a lot, let’s see if one can like it just as much without being paid.
Tasting Notes
More than a peat bomb, it is a mineral and coastal bomb on the nose: if they wanted to emphasise its island origins, I would say they have succeeded in doing so. Plenty of iodine, with a rather incisive medicinal smoke and a palette of citrus and fruit (orange, lime, peach, apple, white melon) playing a supporting role. A faint background of vanilla and honey. Spartan.
Despite its low alcohol content, it has a fairly oily entry, spreading black pepper and ginger across the palate, echoing the maritime spirit of the nose with peat that quickly exhausts its medicinal charge, veering towards a caustic used ashtray. More citrus and white fruit, the pastry aspect a little more evident but still secondary. It becomes bitter in the finish.
The finish is short, very short, with used ashtray, salt, mineral and vegetal notes.
Review: A classic peated dram that risks disappointing those looking for strong emotions, as the smokiness is not that pronounced and, above all, monotonous. You usually say that it is worth what it costs, but in this case I would say that it is overpriced for what it offers.
Vote: 75/100