Uile-bheist New Make Spirit Drink

Smells earthy, malty, vegetal, and fruity. Tastes mildly peppery and hot capsicum upon arrival, developing into full-bodied vegetal flavors. The texture is oily and slick. Finishes short with peppery mulch. The aroma is dominated by rotting fruit and vegetables with an oily quality, typical for much barley new-make spirit. The palate also has this vegetal characteristic, creating a robust profile that is enjoyable once you get used to it, but can be off-putting for beginners. Delicate new-makes that are immediately approachable are rare. However, there are no faint cardboard or off-notes from the cut; this is a well-made, clean spirit. I enjoyed it with a generous splash of water, and even more with fruit juice and ice, but for me, new-make is for exploration and education rather than pure enjoyment, unless you're a dedicated fan of moonshine. Very difficult to rate, but I'm scoring it on the good side of average. Tasted at Uile-bheist Distillery, 5th April 2015 “Average”: 79/100 (2.75 stars)