46°
Distillery : Isle of Harris - Islands
Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Casks, Oloroso and Fino Sherry Casks
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2023
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 15 ppm
Isle of Harris distillery opened exactly 8 years ago, in October 2015. So it took a long time to have their first whisky. But it's here now, its name is The Hearach, this is how you call someone who lives on this island. It's unchillfiltered, at 46°, aged from 5 to 7 years old, and is slightly peaty. It followed a fourfold maturation, with two kinds of Bourbon casks, and two kinds of Sherry casks. So this a pretty complex and not so young whisky for a very first release. This is a limited edition, released in 7 different Batches, and the Batch 5 is reserved for the French market, 12326 bottles were put on sale.
Let's Taste It :
It's well-balanced, with honey, cereals, a pinch of iodine, sea spray, some vanilla but light. A zest of lemon, some fish and pebbles in the background. It's costal without being it too much, and the peat is barely perceptible, diffuse. The palate is fresh, maritime, the fruits stand out, but above all the vanilla and lemon. A few white grapes and mirabelle plums, but discreet. Then red pepper. The finish is decent, fairly long, not too strong, woody, earthy, with chestnuts and hazelnuts.
In Short,
It's a very good strategy to have waited long enough. This Hearach is relatively mature, you don't feel its youth, the complex maturation gives it a subtle and silky character. In my opinion, it's very successful, close to what Highland Park does but with more character and roundness. It's very promising, but unfortunately the price isn't at all competitive at the moment, so they'll have to improve on that.
Score : 86
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Eagle Eye Cherry - Desireless
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