40°
Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay
Refill Bourbon and Sherry Casks
Independent Bottling
By The Highlands & Islands Scotch Company Limited
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 1997
Unchillfiltered
Peated around 38 ppm
The Highlands & Islands Scotch Whisky Company is a small trading company founded in the late 1990s by Brian Crook, who also created The
Vintage Malt Whisky Company in 1992. Both companies are therefore
twins. The first owns The Ileach, the second takes care
of Finlaggan, and another one created later deals with Islay Storm. All three brands are said to come from three different
distilleries in Islay, rumor has it (and my personal opinion) The Ileach
is very young, 40° reduced Lagavulin with dyes. This thing has a certain success, especially because of its very low
price, it even seems that it is the 2nd best-selling brand in Sweden.
Let's Taste It :
Creamy, muddy nose with vanilla and liquorice. The peat is quite strong,
like puffs of steam, mixed with soil and roots. All this is
softened by the influence of Bourbon, the Sherry is very discreet, it
only gives a little thickness. The mouth is average, certainly pleasant,
with a fairly good balance between the sweetness of Bourbon and a good
big peat. It's still watery. Fairly good finish, of medium length, a
little ashy and smoky. Dried fruits, smoked tea.
In Short,
Frankly, if it's not Lagavulin, I agree to be turned into a still.
It's very young, but it's pretty well done. It's not the kind of
thing you taste, it's only for big peat lovers, who want something to
drink quickly. It's light, but the price is also light. Personally, it
doesn't suit my tastes, if it's at 40° I expect a certain finesse, I
tolerate the lack of nuances only for Peat and Sherry Bombs at
over 50°.
Score : 84
To Be Listened While Sipping :
The Chats - Smoko
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