McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt Single Barrel (1/9/20)

Nose: Salty buttery popcorn first, then some peat, salted caramel. Perhaps a very slight hint of plum or darker fruits. Palate: A blend of smoke, sweetness, and wood initially. It has a substantial viscosity. The peat becomes more prominent with sipping, presenting a strong earthy character. While the peat is potent, it differs significantly from Islay peat, offering more pronounced decomposition notes. Adding a good amount of water softens the more aggressive peat decomposition and accentuates the barrel and malt characteristics. More caramel, toffee, and butterscotch emerge, along with a touch of something brighter, not quite citrus but faintly floral. Finish: Woody and oily from the peat. Becomes woodier after water is added.

This bottling is from 8/13/21. It has 55.95% ABV; 111.9 proof; Barrel 708 Nose: Ethanol is present, along with a slightly phenolic character, a hint of caramel, and some peat. There's a faint scent of grass that's been left in a mower bag for several hours. A very small floral note can be detected with careful sniffing. Overall, the aroma isn't strong. A companion mentioned black cherry, and I absolutely detect that. Palate: The bourbon cask influence is noticeable, peat and smoke are present but not overwhelming, there's a decent level of sweetness, some caramel, and cherry notes on the palate. Brown sugar is also present. Finish: Light peat phenols, a chewy texture, and a hint of rubber.

Made from Scottish barley that was malted with peat. Sweet Salty Smoky Savory Everything you want in a peat profile. I'm a big fan. Evokes a certain Ardbeg bottling. It's more approachable than anticipated. A must-try for anyone who enjoys peat! 55.8% alc/vol Single barrel aged 5 years