St. Kilian Signature Edition Eight

Nose: Starts with intense sweet peat, smoked meat, a little ashiness, immediately followed by orange, sweet peach, grape jelly, and sweet notes of fresh jasmine. I love it! Very balanced peat with fresh sweetness from wine and spiciness from rye casks. Taste: Begins with smoked marshmallow sweetness, fresh grapefruit, pineapple, then shifts to more savory notes with herbal hints of dill and white peppercorn. The finish is long with mint and candied orange chocolate. I didn't enjoy it as much after adding a teaspoon of water. It's still pleasant, but the ashy notes became more prominent, and it lost some of its herbal character. However, the finish became sweeter and more wine-like, which I found very intriguing. Conclusion: I believe it's one of the finest smoky whiskies I've sampled. The smoky barley, wine, and rye cask finishes all harmonize to create a very balanced experience. It was akin to combining Ardbeg Uigeadail with Glencadam 10 and adding some grapefruit notes.

Very intense peat and strong alcohol. It lacks complexity and has an average finish. Better choices exist for peated malts in this price range.