Elements of Islay Peat & Sherry

Rating: 16/23 Nose: High minerality with light smoke. Hints of citrus, including a touch of nutty tangerine. Some iodine appears with the smoke as well. A very faint hint of barbecue. There's an extra hint of bitterness to the smoke that makes me think of peat. Palate: Big and bold, with a layer of oil and also spiciness. Campfire mixed with vanilla and barrel spice in a way that avoids most of the usual barbecue meatiness. The smoke has a little bit of iodine to it, helping to develop that peat character. The mix of peaty smoke and what sure tastes like a bourbon barrel is decadent and not immature, but lacking in complexity and real maturity. Coming out of the oiliness, I get flavors of tangerine. I like that. There is kind of a malty sweetness throughout at points. It's clearly there, but the other flavors are more prominent for sure. Maybe a small hint of meat, but that's it. Overall, there's a nice balance of peated malt, bourbon barrel, and oloroso cask here, though I'm making some assumptions about what was used to develop this. I'd love some better integration, but this has a nice hedonistic quality. There is a bit more burn than I'd really like, but it's under control and isn't harsh. Finish: Baking spices galore. Hints of iodine bring in smokiness. Notes of malty sweetness develop longer on in the finish. Maybe hints of grain, but that's not certain. Faint vanilla at points. This is quite a nice finish. - Conclusion - This tastes a bit out of balance in a youthful way, but it's not immature in a flawed way. I'm finding this to be more aggressive and less balanced than Nikka From the Barrel (17/23), but also more hedonistic, woody, smoky, and interesting. The Nikka is a bit sweeter overall with more vanilla (mizunara?), but it doesn't really taste more mature. The Shin 10 (16/23) has some smoke and a bite, but it's loaded with decadent apricot and vanilla. It's so much more hedonistic than this is and it's also more balanced in comparison somehow. I was originally thinking that this was a 17 or 18, but now I'm thinking a 16. I like what this brings to the table, but its flaws are increasingly apparent. Side by side, I'm not finding that The Shin is clearly better than this. On a technical level, I am leaning toward the Nikka over this though. It's not that big a difference though. I might go up to a 17 for this, but I think that a 16 is reasonable. This is very close to the Nikka, but I think that its lack of refinement earns it a 16 rather than a 17. Still very nice. Thank you, a friend, for this sample!.

For a cask-strength, peated sherry Islay, this is average. But that's impressive considering it's my preferred profile. It's also not inexpensive, with the 1/2 liter bottle commanding a significant price. I sampled this (the Netherlands version) and was glad I didn't commit to a full bottle, even though it was perfectly acceptable and I enjoyed it. The nose is pleasant, featuring the expected notes. The palate, however, leaves something to be desired, leaning too much into the burnt rubber characteristics found in many average peated Islays. I will not be purchasing a full bottle.

Aged in a single Sherry hogshead. An Islay blended malt Scotch whisky of Caol Ila and Laphroaig (we estimate it's a very young 5-year-old due to the intense peat and smoke on the nose). This dram is full of character – rich, layered, and complex. My drink of the night! Appearance: Medium brown. Nose: Medicine box or cigar box on the nose, clearly from the peat in Laphroaig. Salinity reminiscent of being near the sea, likely imparted by Caol Ila. It gradually opens up to notes of dark chocolate, toasted grains, rum, molasses, smoke, ashes, and spices. Palate: Medium intensity.

My sample came from a bottling released for the 20th anniversary of the Whisky Exchange and bottled at 56.8%. There’s a lovely burning match flavor on the nose and palate, followed by a tangy sweetness and a slightly dry finish. Not especially complex but a satisfying dram that meets expectations.

It's acceptable but not worth the price. The sherry is more like an overpowering red wine. Unusual.

Okay, average.