Single Malt
Scotland
1 Oct 2009
1 Aug 2017
This little gem joins our exclusive Master of Malt collection and hails from an undisclosed Islay distillery. Matured for seven years and released under the Williamson name, Islay aficionados and Scotch whisky sleuths ought to have fun discussing the origin of this superbly spicy, peaty single malt.
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Dark, oily peat brings waves of earthy, vegetal smoke, with grassy notes of iodine cushioned by chunks of bitter dark chocolate. Salted lemons and peppery oak follow, with a touch of minerality in the distance.
Crunchy layers of drying spice and charred herbs give way to jammy forest fruits and honeyed malt. Bitter citrus is joined by that minerality from the nose, with hefty helpings of ashen peat smoke standing firm all the while.
Spiced biscuits and buttery shortbread join for the end, with more earthy, smoky embers, and a drizzle of salted caramel.
Just noticed this was distilled in oct 2009, I visited Laphroaig that month! I may well have tried this as new make back in 2009…
This reminds me of quarter cask, but more so. It’s as if the final stint in the smaller casks was longer than usual for QC, much more wood and less sweet with a very earthy kick. Smoke yes but not overly so, it’s the woody tannic earthy notes on this that prevail especially on the long finish. Interesting! Second bottle incoming ..
