Michel Couvreur Overaged Peated Extra Strength

Michel Couvreur virtual tasting, 21 October 2021. Whisky #2 Nose: Sweet maritime peat, ash, light tropical fruit hints, brine. Palate: Sweet, soft arrival with an oily texture, light fruit notes and a honeyed tone. The fruit comes further into focus in the development and an ashy smoke quality is prominent and builds throughout the palate and into the finish. Finish: Medium/short. Smoky, sweet. I have not investigated Michel Couvreur whiskies previously but a recent virtual tasting event based on 5 expressions piqued my interest. This is highly reminiscent of a soft Islay peated malt. I don’t know what the distillate was but I’d bet on peated Bunnahabhain. There is a quality to it that is similar to Kilchoman as well, but Bunnahabhain is a more likely supplier of wholesale clearic. It’s an enjoyable peated whisky, gentle and easy to drink and there are certainly no off-notes but I couldn’t help feeling it was a bit generic. For all its declared 12 years of age it still comes across as a little young even though it is supposed to contain whiskies up to 20 years old, and there is not a lot of complexity. I like my single malts to have a little more bite than this, but I guess that's not the Couvreur philosophy of maturation. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars )