Tastes

Nose: Medicinal, peat, smoke, gooseberries. Out of the islays I’ve tried, this seems the most medicinal on the nose. I also feel like a try-hard naming gooseberries but I immediately thought of those yellow tart gooseberries from Trader Joe’s when I nosed this. This is obviously an islay but for some reason I keep coming back to tartness on the nose. Palate: Interesting. Not as rich as I’d think, it doesn’t have the same mouthfeel as other islays immediately. The second sip starts to be more full in the mouth though. Pretty straightforward profile I’d say with peat, smoke, and oak. There are subtle hints throughout with tart fruit. Its almost a sour peat - I want to say it’s almost campbeltown funk but it’s not. It’s more sour. It’s interesting. July 9 Edit: After reading more about Bruichladdich and PC, the “sour peat” and tart may be the lactic funk everyone speaks about. Much prefer the industrial/oil funk from campbeltowns but anything that is different is fun. Finish: Cigarette ashtray, spice, tannins. The bitterness lingers for awhile and can’t say I dislike it.

Fruity, chocolatey, and floral. A lot to unpack here - roller coaster of tastes from nose to finish and want to get a bottle of this to dig into at home. Better than the blue spot and redbreast I tasted also and makes me want to explore Irish whisky more.

Floral and bready. Quite good overall with hints of dried fruits and malt.

Way too simple and basic for me. Candied banana all over the place. Butterscotch, sugary sweetness, candy. Not much else. Lights up the entire mouth and is hot. Hints of tea, nuts, and that overwhelming banana sweetness in a long finish.

Caramel, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, oak, apples, cereal Sharp finish, astringent, spicy

Vanilla, banana, caramel, sugary sweetness from the wheat but also a little cereal, malt, nutty, earthiness that provides balance and complexity. Wheaters often are too simplistic and sweet for me, but this provides some depth and curiosity that made it stand out as best in the blind tasting I did when trying this.

Gentle aromatic spice