Whiskey Review: State-38 WI McKenzie Scottish Peat Smoked Whiskey

Much as the nose promised, it’s savory and salty, with more strong peat, along with pastrami and black pepper. There’s a mild milk chocolate note in there, too. Campfire smoke and salt linger on the finish. Drying on the palate, but in an ocean water way, not a tannic way. Final Thoughts and Score: This is a big, brawny bastard of a whiskey, perfect for people who like scotch, strongly-flavored deli meats, and dominating conversations. Unsurprisingly, given the provenance of the malt, it’s more like an Islay single malt than most of the other American malt whiskeys I’ve had, which is probably why it’s labeled as a “Scottish peat smoked whisky” and not an American malt whiskey. I don’t quite get the level of complexity advertised by the distillery—although, granted, I don’t drink super-smokey scotch too often—but nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable experience if you’re in the mood for a craft whiskey that will make you feel like you’d do okay in a bar fight.