Berkshire Bourbon Smoke and Peat

Another American craft I've finished, this sample provided by a friend. The Berkshires are an extension of Vermont’s Green Mountains, like foothills of the Appalachians stretching from North Carolina all the way to Maine and Canada. It’s a lovely region in western Massachusetts, known for its summer arts and food culture. And similar to the mountain range, I suspect this distillery viewed this bottling as an extension of Islay’s peat and smoke. There's definitely peat and smoke on the nose and palate, but it's subdued...it doesn't hit you like Lagavulin, Ardbeg and Laphroaig. It's much milder. And the peat isn't like Islay peat...more like a Highlander attempting to peat its whisky. It's intriguing, and I can imagine this being quite good in cocktails, but neat or with just a few drops of water, it's too muted. Thanks to a friend for the sample—I enjoy trying craft spirits!

This was enjoyable, but I prefer peat in my scotch and bourbon. The cost was a bit high, yet it was still a pleasure to drink.

It's incredibly smooth and smoky, concluding with vanilla. The smoke level is good, and it's smooth for someone who typically avoids smoky spirits.

Brilliant! A lovely, crisp bourbon with a subtle smokiness. An excellent concept! I'm impressed!

The smoke is certainly present in both smell and taste, but it's not overwhelming; a good product!

Vanilla scent, nutty smoke flavor, pleasant warmth in the finish