Smokey Joe

Rating: 15/23 Nose: The aroma is quite sharp with a sour richness that at first brings to mind vomit and Copper Fox Rye. There's noticeable peat, sharp brine, and smoke. There's also a touch of sweetness in the smell, reminiscent of Talisker and Caol Ila when mingled with the smoke and potent iodine. The nose is somehow sour and smoky without being particularly herbal or having any other distinguishing characteristics. It's rather fascinating though, and I'm eager to taste it despite the apparent absence of balance. As is typical with Islay Scotch, it smells savory and there's a decent amount going on. Palate: The taste is immediately both sweet and smoky with that prior briny flavor holding it together, along with a peculiar jalapeno spiciness originating from the peat. There's a considerable amount of iodine contributing some richness and bitterness. There's actually a fair bit happening here. It is surprisingly sweet, somewhat like sugar water was added, and it's a bit light for an Islay Scotch, but that could perhaps be attributed to elegance. That vomit characteristic remains a slight issue, but much like the Laphroaig 10 Band-Aids, it's not insurmountable. There's also a bit of grain present, truly defining the profile. The balance is surprisingly good, actually, despite its boldness. There's some menthol alongside the iodine, though they are well-integrated to form the peat. It certainly doesn't taste aged, but it also doesn't seem poorly constructed. Finish: The peat and smoke linger along with that sugar water sweetness, the brine, and the jalapeno spiciness. It's a persistent finish that is actually pretty solid. For an inexpensive Islay Scotch, this appears to be an excellent selection. It's certainly at least a 12 and could be a 15. Talisker 10 is undoubtedly richer and more harmonious, possessing more sweetness and malt, as well as smoothness. This tastes young in comparison for sure and it's definitely harsh, though Islay whiskeys can actually get away with that. Between the two, I believe the Talisker prevails, but not by a significant margin. Caol Ila 12 is also richer, but with more chocolate notes in its flavor, making it quite indulgent before revealing its fruity characteristics. The Caol Ila is also very well-balanced. In direct comparison, the Smokey Joe comes across as harsh and young with a thin body. The Caol Ila is definitely superior despite perhaps lacking the same complexity. Clynelish 14 is also richer with some sweet fruitiness, despite the waxiness giving way to a less full and rich finish. Of course, this isn't a totally fair comparison since Clynelish isn't peated, but it feels justified somehow. I still prefer the Clynelish, though I think the Caol Ila is the best. What's evident from all of this though is that Smokey Joe is harsh and young in comparison with a thin palate. I think I favor the others, though Smokey Joe is honestly not bad. Clynelish does have a peculiar long finish, so perhaps I'm not as big of a fan of that one. Although light and young, Smokey Joe tastes more like it's fulfilling a role than like it's an underaged disaster. It isn't bad, frankly. Yes, there's a lot of unusual elements here that are quite in-your-face, but I keep returning to this being a fairly drinkable whiskey. This is far from the subtlety and elegance of Lagavulin 16, but it's still not awful. This may possess a more aggressive nature, but it's still slightly less rich. Yet not awful. It lacks the sweet chocolate richness of Ardbeg Corryvreckan in direct comparison, though that leaves me questioning when Ardbeg Corryvreckan possessed those qualities. In comparison, Smokey Joe unfortunately has a vomit foulness, though it's still not enough to create a truly disgusting, jarring experience like Clan MacGregor. Port Charlotte 10 is richer and certainly smokier, but also not super well-balanced, with some added fruitiness and malty sweetness, but less complexity. This isn't as good, but I keep returning to how surprisingly good this is. Yes, it's light and young and all that, but it's actually quite drinkable. Now that I've experienced it side-by-side with several other drams, I'm assigning it at least a 13. I believe a 14 is warranted. I could see a 15 as well. Not certain about a 16. This would be an easy whiskey to overlook, but it's actually quite good. The price is higher than I anticipated, but so is the quality. I think it might earn that 15 since it was right up there with Talisker and Caol Ila, but I'll revisit that on a clean palate with my final sip. If this were $30 instead of $40, it would be an easy purchase. I think the 46% ABV works out well here since it would otherwise be a bit insubstantial. Actually, I'm going to increase it to 15 right now. In direct comparison, this definitely does not have the sour boldness and sugar water sweetness of Copper Fox Rye, though it does possess more complexity. Wow! It's somewhat in the style of Copper Fox Rye combined with Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Given its name, I never suspected that this might be a good whisky.

Nose: Medicinal peat, rubber, iodine, smoked meat, leather, tar, caramel, vanilla, lemon zest, with a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: Rubbery peat, tar, green apple, toffee, dry vanilla, iodine, leather, mesquite, smoked meat, lemon zest, a moderate alcohol bite. The medium-length finish has peat smoke, toffee, and lemon zest flavors. I might have been too harsh on a certain large liquor store's offerings yesterday. Not all of their house brands are bad. This is an example of that. Now, don't rush out to your local shop thinking this is a top-tier find, but it's not terrible either. The aroma is characteristic of Islay, but it's younger and more subdued than most. It's medicinal, rubbery, and meaty, with some caramel and vanilla notes appearing. The palate is more robust, with citrus zest and green apple accompanying the smoke. Overall, it's better than average. It reminds me of a less concentrated blend of a young Laphroaig and Caol Ila. It's bottled at 46%, but still feels thin and watery. It has a solid foundation, but the execution falls short. It doesn't compare to other young Islays like Wee Beastie, and it's definitely not as good as Laphroaig 10 or Caol Ila 12. However, it's reasonably priced at around $37 a bottle where I am. If you're looking for an Islay on a tight budget, this is a decent choice.

The nose is both gentle and aggressive at the same time. Gentle honey and heather blend skillfully with a noticeable 46% ABV and classic Islay peat, which is strong with maritime character, plus subtle oak vanillin. Not very complex, but perfectly enjoyable. The contrast between the sweet and smoky elements on the palate is far less harmonious than the nose. It starts quite sweet, moving from golden syrup to nearly caramel, then it becomes peppery hot. Stone fruit like nectarine and apricot is briefly detected, followed by a certain copper-nickel metallic note, and a medicinal sooty smoke. The body is on the lighter side of medium, with few if any legs appearing in the glass after a quick recession leaving a few droplets here and there. The somewhat long finish is just challenging enough to be intriguing without being overbearing. Plenty of peat remains alongside a bit of briny seaweed and bitter iodine underlaid with citrus peels and pith served in a wooden bowl. Aroma: 8 Taste: 7 Body: 6 Finish: 7

Aroma: campfire, but if you are burning sappy logs. Taste: smoke at first, then smoke and ash, finishing with smoke. Seriously. There are faint hints of phenol on the nose, vanilla on the palate, some spice, then the finish has a little peat and sea salt. But those are a 3 and smoke is an 11. It satisfies the craving if you want a pure smoke bomb but lacks subtlety or depth. Water and ice didn't change much, except the flavor of the smoke. Tried it in a Fever-Tree Smoked Ginger Ale. This is its happy place. If I ordered this in Vegas for $25, I'd be impressed. Sweet and smoky, balanced with hints of oak and spicy bourbon and ginger. If I had a line wedge, it would be the perfect evening drink by the campfire.

Nose: Heavy smoke. Sea salt. Grassy and earthy. Hints of hidden fruitiness. Heavy and pleasant. Palate: A bit hotter than anticipated, with decent spice. Smoky. Some caramel emerges while the salt and touches of pepper provide balance. Finish: Long and smooth, characteristic of an Islay. A little pepper. The heat lingers, and the grassiness remains the longest. Overall Impressions: The name accurately reflects the contents! It's not bad, but I wouldn't classify it as top-shelf. Islay is always a delightful choice in my view, but this one is on the milder side and generally just a bit bland. It's enjoyable enough to sip, but I don't see myself rushing to buy a 750ml bottle anytime soon. The nose is ultimately the most appealing aspect.

This has a powerful smoky character with a hint of peat. Honestly, I don't find it pleasant to drink neat. It reminds me of Shieldaig "finest old," which is also too smoky for my preference when consumed straight. I'll use this similarly to how I use the Shieldaig: to blend with other less appealing whiskeys that lack complexity. I've discovered that creating my own whiskey blends is quite rewarding. I just can't resist purchasing unfamiliar whiskeys, no matter the cost or prior reviews. Combining whiskeys helps me finish all the bottles I own.