Late spring into summer has been...busy, to say the least. Now that the garden is thriving and my kiddo’s back in daycare 1-2 days a week, I finally have the mental energy to start approaching some new drams. This one, generously shared with me by @PBMichiganWolverine, is an intriguing one. “Peated” and “Lowland” - not descriptors that typically go together, and yet Ailsa Bay manages to dovetail two seemingly disparate styles. Quintessential Lowland traits - lightness, dryness, tree fruit notes - aren’t overwhelmed by the ashy peat, citrus, and salinity that would not be out of place on Islay. While clearly young, this whisky still manages to walk the tightrope. I’m eager to see what more time in the barrel can do here, but this isn’t a bad first release at all.