TheWhiskeyNinja
Smokehead Islay Single Malt
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
August 16, 2020 (edited June 13, 2022)
Nose is smoke over powering. Meaty, char and rubber. Initial taste was like the burnt bits on a grill. Then turned nice a half second later. Ultimately mellowing (sorta, this never really mellows, more like the way a Ferrari in grey is "understated") into a mild rubber and smoke oak and peat and almost like sesame oil, then with some seaweed snacks on the finish and rock salt. Some vanilla extract too. Never subtle. Weakness is these aren't just amped up great flavors. They are ok flavors spiked to 11. Think a good that just ok and amplify that flavor. It's not better. Just more. I'll need to be in the exact mood to do this one.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@TheWhiskeyNinja Thanks for the blind SBS! It's a shame that this one didn't work out. The fact that someone else did better from possibly the same distillery for less money suggests to me that Smokehead is probabaly not worth trying.
@ContemplativeFox. Yeah. I did it blind against the Total Wine Islay Gold and 2 higher ends but would take the Islay Gold probably over this one for less money. The smoke just isn't integrated well. I love smokey peaty scotch but this just wasn't it for me. Funny because my hunch is they are from the same distillery.
Well, at least 'OK but more' makes for a decent mixer. Probably a solid choice for a smoky cokey (though the price is on the high side).