Elements of Islay Peat

Elements of Islay's "Peat" expression catches my eye, but I hesitate to purchase due to the 50cl size; a full bottle should be 70cl. This blended malt comes from several Islay distilleries. It's bottled at 59.3% ABV with a white wine hue. Upon opening, the initial scent is a heathery peat. The aroma isn't overwhelming, offering a very fragrant profile with citrus and fruit notes like gooseberries and grapefruit. It's also spicy, reminiscent of wasabi, Tabasco, and chili, along with newspaper ashes. Fresh orchard fruits, sharp spices, and aromatic smoke are present. After an initial taste, sugary notes transfer to the nose, mingling with burnt hay and tobacco leaf. It's like cotton candy infused with pleasant peat. The palate begins with sugar syrup and a delightful chili heat. It's notably sweet and intense, yet pleasantly so. This 59.3% peaty powerhouse is quite drinkable and lingers nicely. Salt rock notes emerge. The next sip reveals a peat-infused caramel, a sweet toffee with salt. It's exceptionally good, potent yet very manageable. The sweetness is remarkable, and I thoroughly enjoy it. The finish leaves a lovely taste of freshly burned wood, quite dry and moderately oaky. A subsequent sip provides a more complex, lingering aftertaste rich with sugar, peat, smoke, and incense – like cigarettes with sugar, mint, and other wonderful elements. Frankly, I was initially doubtful, as extremely high-proof peated whiskies can often be too intense for casual sipping. They require a specific mood and readiness for sensory overload. That's not the case here. This is an incredibly enjoyable, sweet dram bursting with flavor, exceptionally easy to drink, and highly rewarding. I savored every part of it, with each sip improving. I think this might make my top ten whiskies of the year. My rating for this exceptional dram is 100 out of 100.

This is another sample from my collection of presents. As stated, this whiskey uses Islay malts to highlight their characteristics. Given its ABV is close to 60, I poured about 1/2 teaspoon of water into the 30 mL serving and allowed it 15 minutes to breathe. Smell: Iodine, ocean spray, smoke, citrus peel Taste: Honey, heavily smoked ham, cigar remnants, campfire, and alcohol burn Aftertaste: Moderately long and fiery with lingering smoked ham. Rated 3.5 stars. It's decent for a spirit I had no prior knowledge of.

This spirit made me sneeze. However, it strongly brought back memories of sitting by a bonfire on Asilomar beach, enjoying some spirits, while wrapped up against the wind.

A good whisky, reminiscent of a Lagavulin 16. The peat and honey complement each other well, with a smooth finish. I recommend it.

Robust, smoky, and intensely flavored. This Christmas Edition, with its significant peat, stands as a fine cask strength Islay blend.

2016/10/2 at ne plus ultra in Ginza. Strong peat presence, but an addictive aroma. The initial impact is intense, followed by a mellow quality.