Smoky Shores 14 Year Old (Wemyss Malts) 70cl Whisky

Smoky Shores is back, and this time there’s a 14-year age statement on the label. Following the original release in 2022, Wemyss Malts has returned to its salty, smoky theme with a blend of two single malts that approach peat from rather different directions.

One comes from a distillery well known for its smoky whisky. The other is a peated expression from a distillery more usually associated with an unpeated style. Master blender Isabella Wemyss selected the whiskies from a small parcel of hogsheads and married them to bring together coastal brine, medicinal peat and a bright thread of orange peel. The names remain under wraps, so there’s something to debate while you’re nosing it.

Fourteen years of maturation have developed the savoury side of the whisky, while that citrus character keeps things lively. Bottled at 46% ABV without chill-filtration, this limited release comprises just 3,552 bottles. A seaside dram with clouds of smoke in its coat pockets.