McCarthy's Peated Oregon Single Malt 2022 Single Cask #5 (Lost Lantern)

Rating: 14/23 Nose: Significant smoke and savory notes. Young, barbecue-like, diluted sweetness, medicinal peat, gentle malt, a whisper of roasted meat, faint apple, some sweet vanilla and pear. The high alcohol content is evident and there's a lot happening, but it feels a bit unbalanced and not all the individual aromas are appealing. Palate: Alcohol burn. Plenty of smoke with savoriness. Hints of barbecue, but also medicinal peatiness, vanilla, and pear. The alcoholic heat is much more prominent than the other flavors. Vegetal notes appear at times with that distinct funky peat taste. Now tasting a creaminess and I see how Lost Lantern arrived at a vanilla ice cream flavor. I appreciate the direction, but the palate is young and burns. Finish: Lingering spices, bitterness, oiliness, savoriness. Vanilla is present throughout. - Conclusion - There's promise here, but it's too young and it truly burns. I want to enjoy this, but it's harsh. Appreciating this requires considerable persistence or a well-accustomed palate. It's demanding. I wish I loved it, but it's rough. There are elements to like, but it's not a prime example of American single malt. I'm estimating around a 14. I could see it being slightly higher or lower.