46°
Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay
Refill Hogshead and Jamaican Rum Finish
Independent Bottling
By Douglas Laing & Co.
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2024
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Heavily Peated
To make a pairing with the Caol Ila I mentioned in the previous post, this Big Peat's Finest was finished in Jamaican rum casks. I've been told that it's Bunnahabhain, and that fits the profile, but nothing's certain of course. I don't understand why they keep the name of the distillery a secret, it must be one of those marketing theories that are beyond our understanding. In any case, 300 bottles have been released and distributed almost exclusively on the French market, as part of the collection Foundations launched by La Marison du Whisky.
Let's Taste It :
On the nose, greasy and vegetal smoke, slightly metallic pear, orchard fruits with hints of iodine, artichoke hearts, lychee, white grapes, and in the background relatively dry peat, lime, tar and soot. On the palate, it's fairly unctuous, still with those metallic tints, which go well with a pinch of icing sugar, citrus fruit, grapefruit, lime and a few cereals. Rare but intense spices, cloves, cumin. The finish is long and herbaceous, with whiffs of the sea, kelp and sea spray, followed by earthy notes, roots and bark.
In Short,
There's much less rum than in the Caol Ila. The peat is very present, but there's also a maritime profile, which is generally more discreet in Bunnahabhain. I'm beginning to wonder if it's really this distillery, it could also be Ardbeg or, at the very least, Bowmore. In any case, it's quite a success, the rum imposes a certain sweetness, but the rest is the profile of an Islayer full of character. The only slight regret is the reduction to 46°, which takes away quite a bit of power. In my opinion, the price is very high for what it is, and it should be reserved for the curious fortunate.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Tremonti - The End Will Show Us
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