OVERALL RATING
Burn, medicinal, brine, seaweed, mustard, peat Finish: Long and sweet w/ Water: Better, not as hot, long finish, fruity sweetness. SCORE: 8.9 Jim Color: Straw / light gold. Nose: Strong burn at first but it soon settles and hints of pear and pear blossom appear, interestingly floral. Then there is the saltiness that’s more common in island scotches. It’s not as pronounced as an Islay, but there is a faint glimmer of peat. Palate: Again I am hit by an initial burn but it opens up to a world of spiciness; pepper, coriander, and what Michael Jackson describes as “mustardy.” I’m not completely sold on that notion but it comes close to the warm and fragrant spice that I get. There’s also the lightly phenolic flavor of the peat and smoke, just enough to make you smile. And brine, I can’t forget about the saltiness that shows up at the end. Finish: Oh, it’s long. Long and sweet, but not pulling back from the slightly spicy and salty flavors from the palate. They just linger and slowly fade. w/Water: This is a scotch I can recommend a few drops of water. The nose loses much of the burn and it gives it a slightly sweeter palate and finish. SCORE: 90 / 91 (with water)
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Jim Kee, a pharmacist with a 20-year passion for Scotch, and Matt Dee, an American history teacher who shares a deep appreciation for whiskey, embarked on a journey of documenting their tasting experiences to discern the Scotches worth revisiting. Last year, they decided to share their insights with the world through their blog, The Whisk(e)y Noobs.
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