57°
Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay
Refill Ex-Bourbon and American Virgin Oak Casks
Independent Bottling
By Hunter Laing & Co.
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 2020
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
As it will be at least 3 years before the Ardnahoe distillery's first Single Malt is released, the owners have decided to keep us waiting with this independent bottling, which they distribute via their famous trading company, Hunter Laing & Co. First, the Scarabus Specially Selected was released at Feis Ile 2019, followed by the 10 Year Old and this Batch Strength in December 2020. Hunter Laing & Co. is thus setting itself up as a rival to the Big Peat from the Douglas Laing & Co. cousins, and it's going to turn into a fratricidal duel. Scarabus means 'place of the rock' in Norse and is said to be a well-known spot on the island of Islay.
Let's Taste It :
First of all, the nose is strongly iodised; you're eating foam and sniffing kelp. It reminds me of Caol Ila. Entire granite cliffs collapsing into the sea. Graphite. An ashtray full of fine ash. Factory smoke, perhaps a little toxic. Thick, vegetable peat. Some white fruits with the addition of water, but barely. Unrefined sea salt. Vanilla. Banana. Very oily on the palate, where the peat imposes itself without suspense, with a fine vanilla bean. The finish is a complete success, long and as full of charcoal as one could wish, with a hint of almonds.
In Short,
It's so good! Big Peat and all the other peat bombs need to watch out! It's powerful, but also subtle, with a hint of fruit and a lovely finish. For me, it's Caol Ila, and if it's not, it's Lagavulin. And if it's not, it's Caol Ila. Definitely worth buying if you like peat at all.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Fugazi - Glueman
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