Kilchoman ImPex Cask Evolution Single Cask 11 Year

Nose - Sweet, meaty, ashy smoke, graphite, charcoal briquettes, toasted grain husks, light honey syrup (with water: more muted, but less graphite/charcoal). Taste - Sweet ashy smoke, lightly meaty, light soy sauce, cracked black pepper, watery honey (with water: same, but adds a salt component). Finish - Lingering ash, sweet watery honey, thinned soy sauce, rehydrated beef jerky, cracked black pepper (with water: salty ashy smoke, thinned soy sauce, lightly meaty). Score - 83/100. Final Thoughts - The peat in this expression is quite pronounced; you can easily detect the sweet ashy smoke from the glass several feet away. It's a very clean, yet ashy smoke. There's a significant charcoal/graphite/mineral quality to the smoke, combined with this sweet, meaty note. The best way I can describe it is like taking soy sauce-marinated beef jerky, rehydrating it in thinned honey syrup, and then smoking that liquid with charcoal. That's the impression of thinned, meaty soy sauce I get. It's interesting, but perhaps has a bit too much of that graphite/metallic/mineral character for my preference. I do appreciate how a little water really enhances the saltiness. Would I drink it if offered? Perhaps. Would I specifically order it? No. Would I buy a bottle? No. NOTE - All reviews are conducted without considering price.

Tasting from a First Fill cask