Nose: Good level of sweetness on the nose. We get Gipsy Tart dressed with TCP (not a recommended dessert), some light fruit, perhaps a hint of stewed pear and vanilla. Hints of sooty smoke, and maybe even some lychee and menthol too, and just a soupcon of perfume.
Palate: Really oily, with huge peat smoke mixed with creamy, buttery sweetness. As you hold it in the mouth, foam banana sweets develop, with hints of chocolate and apple strudel. It tastes exactly like a sweeter version of the pungent smell at the distillery; there’s that wonderful savoury peat smoke from the maltings; some seaweedy/slightly medicinal tones (which drift in from the beach); and slightly dry salt air.
Finish: Long. Big charcoal notes at the back of the palate, maybe just a suggestion of Mezcal, which works really well.
Overall: A great dram. In fact, our favourite Feis Ile bottling so far! It’s a bit like peated bourbon. ‘Pourbon’ if you will.