Smokehead High Voltage

Warning! Intense energy! It feels like this drink demands Electric Six plays in the background. The Smokehead Single Malt was a pleasant introduction to this somewhat theatrical collection of NAS, unbranded, and skull-decorated bottles. Now, the "High Voltage" cask strength version gives me hope for something superior to the previous one, especially with its tagline promising an overwhelming sensory assault. Nose: Upon smelling, there's a noticeable richness compared to the standard Smokehead, full of a rubbery, earthy peatiness. Yeasty bread, pepper, and ash combine for a somewhat musty aroma. A curious, though not necessarily pleasant, mineral-like quality, akin to a metal factory, is present. Palate: The initial taste is powerful with a dense, bacon-grease-like texture. Barley and a toffee-cream flavor appear early, accompanied by a massive amount of pepper. Once the pepper subsides, you find an ashy, granular texture and smoky presence, hints of apple and caramel, and some herbal notes with a barbecue character (Tip: season your grills with rosemary and thyme). There's also a faint medicinal brine, but less pronounced than in the regular Smokehead. Finish: It's long. The pepper evolves into chili. Mineral brine and an ashy texture linger. A satisfying smoke remains long after everything else fades, heading towards the abyss. As expected, this is a significant and potent upgrade from the original Smokehead. However, instead of delivering an invigorating and lively version of the core spirit, it feels like an overly aggressive and heavy-handed detour. The aroma has some appealing and intriguing elements, and the mouthfeel is generally good. Yet, some mineral and metallic notes, along with grainy textures, do creep in. I suspect these are signs of a younger spirit that was perhaps more muted in the lower ABV bottling. The higher ABV, thankfully, doesn't manifest as raw spirit or an overpowering ethanol sting; however, it does intensify the pepper-chili heat to an almost uncomfortable degree. Adding a decent amount of water helps tone down some of the harsh characteristics, revealing a delightful salted caramel which somewhat salvages it. Paradoxically, water also seems to bring out more metallic astringency. An interesting, but not particularly exciting, dram that is competitively priced for a cask strength in the Australian market. It can be found on sale for as little as AUD$99, or up to AUD$125. Given this, isn't the sensible choice for a high ABV smoky single malt the Port Charlotte 10 (50% ABV) priced at $109-115?! This is the fifteenth tasting from this collection. [Pictured alongside another skull-themed whisky bottle. This one features a large skull representing Australopithecus boisei, the 'Nutcracker Man'. This individual was discovered in 1959 in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge and represents a distinct lineage in human evolution from 1.75 million years ago. It had a broad, concave face, enormous molars (four times larger than ours), a prominent sagittal crest, and large cheekbones, adapted for powerful chewing. Despite its nickname, these creatures likely subsisted on grass, similar to modern Gelada baboons.] Smokehead current ratings: Smokehead Single Malt: 3/5 Smokehead High Voltage: 3.5/5

The initial taste is like a sudden blow from a smoky, solid ash cloud. It's smoky, then smooth, then smoky again. The aftertaste is quite enduring; the flavor and aroma reminiscent of cigarettes linger long after swallowing. Since this is my first experience with heavily peated scotch, my opinion may evolve. At this moment, it undeniably makes a strong impression regarding what one can anticipate from this type of whisky.

Alright, but the bottle was just opened; who knows how it will evolve. It pairs very well with water. One might expect similarity to other Smokehead expressions, but they are quite different. As for the "as we get it," that must originate from an entirely different distillery. Regarding the distillery: "the liquid is rumored to come from a certain southern-Islay distillery that stands approximately 3 miles from Port Ellen on the Kildalton coast," so that can only be Ardbeg.

Just so we're clear, peat isn't my thing, but wow, this is amazing. A hint of TCP on the aroma, the initial sip hits with alcohol, then immediately turns spicy. The smoke and peat are present, yet the entire drink is so well-rounded that the flavors relentlessly assault your palate... it's the BDSM of whiskies. Even if peat or smoke isn't your preference, you absolutely must sample this fiery little gem.

The aroma presents smoke. The taste is sweet and smoky, with cooked fruit lurking. The finish delivers additional sweet smoke and pepper, likely from the high alcohol content. I concur with other opinions that this is not an intricate whisky, but it is smoky and lacks significant defects found in some youthful spirits. With Islay whisky prices climbing quickly, this is practically a bargain.

Second tasting experience - the nose presents a sweet, smoky aroma. Taste - the initial flavor is spice, which persists throughout. The smoke is present but secondary; the overall balance is very good. Aftertaste - once everything settles and you believe the experience is complete... then the smoke emerges as a final farewell.