Reviews for Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke
Sweet and smokey.
If you like peat malts but want to try something a little different, then I would highly recommend this. Its nice neat a lovely balance of smokey and sweet, its very subtle and delicate. I prefer it with ice as that intensifies the flavours, you get a bit more smoke punching through with lingering sweet notes. However if you leave the ice in too long the smoke will eventually dissipate, and the sweet notes erode away. It still leaves a decent whisky behind. But you should drink it before then.
Andrew Simpson Oct 4, 2023
Very Surprised
As someone who loves peaty whisky, especially Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, I was pleasantly surprised with Ailsa Bay. While it says "sweat smoke", I find it less sweet than Lagavulin, which I prefer. Considering it does not have an age statement, it has a good balance of complexity and peat, rounding off nicely. It also is cheaper than Lagavulin, without compromising much.
Monik Giannikou Jan 7, 2023
Decent for a young’n
Amazing on the nose but lacking on the palate—quite thin and not robust or with much character. I’d give the distillery another try though if/when they release an older version as there is clearly some potential.
Desmond McEwan Apr 22, 2022
Easy release of flavours which are beyond masking by the obvious strength
This is an amazing whisky, I love the scientific background story as well. I am a malt loving Scot who lives in Berkeley, Gloucestershire where Dr Edward Jenner discovered vaccination which in our time will save the world from CoVid. and you can now rightly claim that Ailsa Bay is proudly drunk by the inhabitants of Berkeley Gloucestershire the home of vaccination.
For me, if you can find a way of adding a whiff of seaweed and we bit of perceived age you will have perfection, but right now its already great !
Gordon Craig Dec 31, 2020
Delicious
If you love the peaty big hitters from Islay, then this is for you.
A sweet Laphroaig is my non technical description of this very tasty whisky.
Master of Malt Customer Sep 9, 2020
Trade
Winner of 1 award
