Single Malt
Scotland
Highlands and Islands Whisky Company
The Ileach Peaty (pronounced Eee-luhk) is a young and peaty single malt whisky from a secret Islay distillery, independently bottled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. Ileach is what the Islay natives call themselves, and this whisky is Islay through and through. There’s no mucking about here, this is one peaty dram. Of course, it says so in the name.
Youthful peat, herbal notes, oak, grassy, notes of the coast.
Sublimely smooth malty notes, peat, peppery spices, tannins, a touch of fruit.
Faint iodine. Coastal notes, malt.
Whisky is science and the supply is endless. Finally, exhausted I simply just bought a bottle of every peated whisky I could find. Many are very good, Laphrohaig, Ardbeg etc., but if you compare what you get for your money, there is ONE outstanding winner, ILEACH. The man from Islay is very peaty with all the characteristics of more expensive labels, with a slightly fruity and sweet aftertaste, simply the true nectar of Gods. Another praiseworthy blended label is Islay Mist, but where Islay Mist leaves you with a slightly sharp and bitter aftertaste, the ILEACH leaves you with a warm sweet embrace that makes you want to come back for more. Actually, disregarding everything else, I would have the ILEACH as my first choice of all peated whiskys, and then the price tag just adds on to my conviction. ILEACH, you got me forever, I love you...
Had heard some good things about this whisky so was pleased to get a bottle for Christmas. The nose is quite nice, pretty much what you'd expect from an Islay malt, smoky and phenolic. It's nice on the palate, good smoke, saltiness and peat and a little sweetness, too, and a good oily mouth-feel, but there's clearly some young spirit in there, which makes it a little bit rough. But the finish is what really lets it down. Short, bitter, and extremely dry. For the price you could pick up a bottle of Laphroaig 10 when it's on offer and that would be a much better way to spend your money. In fact, there's a lot of better whisky out there you can pick up around the £30 mark.
Nose: Dense smoke with syrupy sweetness surrounding. Bit of melon hooka smell reminiscent of Jura Supersition. Taste: Bit light on the palate, and less texture/body, yet I still wouldn't call it terribly smooth. Definitely some peat (sorry previous poster!) but I'll agree its not substantial (see Port Askaig 100 for this). Short finish. With water: Becomes lifeless, tinny and artificial, again very reminiscent of the weaker of Jura Superstition. Overall, not offensive, but not terribly intriguing. Several better Islay options exist in this year's Scotch calendar.
I did buy the bottle by my self, that much is true. Then when I tried it, and I wanted the smokeyness to roll me over, I stood there thinking 4 myself, was this maybe the bottle that my friend came with, a Glenlivet Whisky. I had to look at the bottle again, no this is/was the bottle that I bought. Then I thought, maybe this a bad dream I´m in. I poured up a double Ardbeg just to be sure. No, I told myself, U´r not dreaming, that was smokey. Ahh ummm, went through my head. Notes from the coast line, oaky, mature peat and a lot of Rock´n Roll. The term smokey gets to us in different ways, I would say, maybe Churchill said that too. I don´t know, 4 sure, but I can say that if there is any smokey rings in the bottle of Ileach, you might find it in the last drops in the bottle, cause I didn´t found any at all. Sorry guys. And all this talk about a young Lagavulin, please don´t curse. Smokegetsinyoureyes.
This whisky should not even been on sale truly disgusting bad nose, rough rough rough. Its not often that the nose on a whisky is so off putting that you can barely bring yourself to sample it anyone who is buying this is wasting their money!
