Chattanooga Whiskey Barrel Finishing Series: Islay Scotch Cask Finish

My wife visited her family, and before departing, she inquired about any local spirits I desired. I requested she look for Chattanooga, especially their Islay finished expression. I've been keen to try Chattanooga since watching a film that featured their 1816. The bottle's appearance and my enjoyment of the movie sparked my interest. My wife found the Islay finished version and bought two bottles. The shop employee mentioned they had Chattanooga Founder's Reserve in stock, so she brought home a third bottle. It was a significant find. I opened the Islay expression last night. This is excellent, perfectly suited to my taste. A rye released last year, finished in Islay barrels, was enjoyable and earned a high rating due to its distinctiveness. However, this Chattanooga Islay finished expression surpasses it. Initially, I struggled to articulate my appreciation. The aroma presented a delightful blend of sweet and savory notes. While the savory aspect was clearly from peat smoke, the source of the sweetness eluded me. It was sugary and fruity, and after a moment, I identified the candied fruitiness as banana, a combination I hadn't encountered in a whiskey before. It could also be likened to bubblegum, reminiscent of Hubba Bubba. The palate offered a pleasant woodiness balanced by spice, culminating in a satisfying peppery finish. This is one of those whiskies I'll reach for above all others now that it's open, but it will disappear quickly. Fortunately, I have a second bottle for a future occasion to repeat the experience. The challenge with acquiring whiskey from afar is its limited availability if it proves exceptional. Given this is a limited edition, I must appreciate it while I can. If this is available in your area, purchase a bottle. Frankly, if it were readily available where I live, I'd buy several, as I have a fondness for peat, whether in Islay scotch or influencing American whiskey. It might not appeal to all tastes, which means more for those who truly value it.

A collection of drinks from around the globe was presented for our quarterly online tasting by some friends. The first was a single cask 14-year Tamdhu from Scotland. The second was the 2022 Chichibu Peated Edition from Japan. The third was the Chattanooga Islay Finish from America, bottled at 47.5% ABV. The aroma is a pleasant, moderately rich, and smoky experience. Creamy caramel and cooked fruits are prominent, supported by a subtle smoke that recedes into chocolate-covered candied nuts and light leather, with a moderate alcohol sting. The palate has a medium body. Mild smoke leads, followed by a slight bitterness that gives way to butterscotch caramel over flambéed apples. Then, freshly lit pipe tobacco and light flinty minerality appear, preceding mildly sour and creamy citrus notes that shift to mildly bitter black tea, with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is of medium duration. It begins with a mild smokiness that recedes as creamy fruits become more apparent, along with butterscotch caramel and subtle earthy tones. This poor drink followed the Chichibu and was a difficult change. The smoke was hard to detect after a very smoky dram, and it tasted slightly astringent. Sampling it again tonight on its own allows the smoke and flavors to truly stand out. I am very impressed with what the Chattanooga team achieved with the Islay cask, adding mild smoky notes that are balanced by those classic bourbon flavors. I am now hopeful they will advance this experiment and release a cask strength version for those of us who enjoy higher proof, as I would love to experience a more robust and intense edition.

This is my first encounter with this distillery, and it certainly won't be my last. While I have a strong affinity for Scotch and am developing a deep appreciation for bourbon and American whiskey, this intrigued me. The aroma requires some effort to uncover but is quite distinctive: notes of cedar, pine tar, powdery candy, and an underlying scent of old furniture polish. However, delving too deeply into the glass reveals its youth and the prominent ethanol. The palate starts warm and unfolds with flavors of pine and honey at the forefront, followed by a touch of salt and caramel, and concluding with a grapefruit-like dryness, all supported by smoke and a faint sweetness of peat. I admit it took some time to appreciate. It's not bourbon, nor is it Scotch. While it may echo elements of both, it stands apart. I typically enjoy bourbon for its rich sweetness and Scotch for its herbal or meaty qualities (and peat, of course), and this offers neither. However, I've come to appreciate it for what it is, and overall, I find it quite excellent.

I attended a Bourbon and American Whiskey tasting event, where I had the chance to sample some rare expressions, including a Chattanooga Whiskey. This was my first from this Tennessee distillery, and it was quite remarkable because it was aged in an Islay Scotch Cask. I've previously established through extensive research that peat ppm originates from kilning peat to smoke the barley, not from "peated water" or charred casks. Therefore, an Islay Cask cannot impart sufficient peat ppm merely by transferring the flavors and aromas absorbed into the oak staves. However, this whiskey is about to challenge that notion. On the nose, it possesses the peat aroma I enjoy! Wet Converse, cigarette smoke, and actual peat. It strongly resembles an Ardmore, which is mildly peated. On the palate, crushed almonds. The smoke is very aromatic, reminding me greatly of a Bowmore. Cotton-like texture. The aftertaste is delightful. Smoke, raisins, a tamed aromatic peat, and hospital gauze and tape. Overall, this is a surprising whiskey. I had no expectations for it and was genuinely impressed. It's clear that the peaty character comes from the Islay cask, which imparted a mild peat influence. A nice dram, my score is 92 out of 100.

Imagine experiencing diverse global cuisines like curry, ceviche, sushi, or Szechuan after a lifetime of only burgers, hot dogs, and plain pasta; the sheer variety of tastes would be revelatory. This whiskey provides a similar experience. The Islay influence imparts such distinct and bold flavors that you question if it's truly American whiskey. The aroma isn't typically Islay or American; it's something else entirely. Sweetness? No, perhaps a tobacco shop? Then again, no. It's like salty sea spray. The taste is equally adventurous: smoky, like barbecue, with some sweet corn and cigar notes. Remarkable. This is a must-try. While it's my first time with Chattanooga, their innovative approach here is a triumph. I'm unsure if it can be replicated, as it likely depends heavily on those unique casks they utilized. If you encounter it, purchase it immediately. For just $65, it's an absolute steal.

The aroma is dominated by peat and honey, with underlying black pepper and subtle baking spices. As it opens up, it becomes very complex, with the smoke still present alongside tropical notes, caramel, and vanilla. The taste is surprisingly thin in texture but has an extremely long scotch finish. The mid-palate offers sweet fruit, salted caramel, baking spices, and cinnamon, followed by a smoky scotch finish with a slight alcohol heat, feeling stronger than its 95 proof. While I'm not usually a fan of peated scotch, this is fantastic. It perfectly balances the sweetness from the oak and vanilla in the bourbon with the spices and just enough smoke on the finish for a terrific combination. It's very unique and definitely worth seeking out, appealing to both scotch enthusiasts and those looking for something new. The 95 proof is interesting; the thinness is expected, but the finish's heat suggests a higher proof.