KILKERRAN HEAVILY PEATED BATCH #4

Nose: Acetone, burnt sugar/marshmallows, bonfire. Funky - but unpleasantly so! Palate: Chicory, caraway, salt and minerals, brown sugar, oak, BBQ meat. Finish: A long finish with wet wood smoke, funk, bonfire, caramelized sugar, tree bark, and damp dog. This dram smells awful, but tastes much better than the aroma suggests. Strangely, I quite like it as a dram - it's peculiar but nicely funky. I'd describe it as an acquired taste - if you can get past the dreadful smell! It was matured in 80% ex-bourbon and 20% ex-sherry casks.

Wow... what a FUNK! From the very first smell, the funk was intense with this one. I've had other "heavily peated" scotches, such as Port Charlotte Heavy Peated and Compass Box Peat Monster, but this one was on another level, unfortunately, not to my liking. There's definitely a briny taste, salty, but not like Talisker, more like a bit excessive. To sum it up, this isn't my preference, so I'm pleased it was a sample I received and not a full bottle.

A second tasting doesn't compare to Laga 12. A very off-putting bitter note combined with butterscotch creates a terrible taste. Not quite as bad as Auchentoshan, but in the same category.

A butter aroma that is far too prominent, but with a spoonful or two of water, clove and phenolic smoke develop. Likely too young and aggressive, in my opinion.

Adding water transforms this into a delightful butter brioche with honey, exhibiting a beautiful balance of sweet and savory peaty smoke. I'm in love with Campbeltown funk!

It tastes like an extremely salty version of Lagavulin 12. The saltiness spoils it. Very rich mouthfeel.