Battlehill Distilled at Bunnahabhainn 8

This is the first offering I've experienced from Battlehill, and it truly highlights the value of independent scotch bottlings. This peated Bunnahabhain presents a youthful, barley-forward profile. The aroma is also zesty, offering an intriguing sourdough yeast note alongside peat, fresh thyme, and the scent of kilning earthenware. The palate reveals more thyme, lemon custard, a rain-soaked hayfield, and salted nuts, including a peanut characteristic unique to my scotch journey. I also detect sweeter notes of raspberry crème brûlée and pear ginger tart. The texture is slightly oily against a backdrop of remarkable peat moss clarity. The finish is flawless, with a beautiful warmth that leaves a lingering peat smoke on the palate, as if unwilling to be forgotten. It's storied, thoughtful, and existentially compelling, all despite its relatively young age. A distinctive and intriguing malt.

Intense peat, oceanic rocks, seaweed, vanilla, wood ear mushrooms, lime.