59.3% abv (batch 1) Non chill-filtered Natural color NAS Nose: Earthy, dense peat smoke, like fresh wet concrete and charcoal on a campfire; damp wood; sweetness, like vanilla and tart apple; lemon sherbet citrus; very slight mustiness and sourdough bread. Taste: intense and sweet; heavy, viscous peated barely; vanilla; caramelized sugar; hints of dark fruits as it develops; pepper. Finish: medium; with vanilla, caramel and pepper. Hint of mint and smoked meat. Ashy burnt wood note lingers. Value: $70-80 USD. Final thoughts: an exciting young smoky single malt. This is peated at 80 ppm, putting it above nearly all other peated malts except Octomore. Despite its youth, this whisky does a lot to impress with its surprising array of notes. All in all a strong first release of their “peat in progress” line and portends good things to come for peat heads. Score: 3.5/5 (recommend trying or buying a bottle at a good price) Malt musing: “Alcohol is not the answer it just makes you forget the question.” :-)