Finlaggan Sherry Finished

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Company Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2016

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

 

 

 

In 2016 the Finlaggan range is renewed, three new expressions are produced: Eilean Mor, Sherry Finished and Port Finished. And it looks like they took the opportunity to make the Original Peaty disappear. As its name suggests, the Sherry Finished was finished in Sherry casks after an initial maturation in Bourbon casks. How long, which Sherry, which distillery does the juice come from, so many questions that will remain unanswered (except for the last one, it's C...). As long as it's good, in the end, we don't ask for more.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely sweetness despite the charcoal peat and imposing smoke. It's creamy, with candied fruits, gooseberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, apricot jam, apple fritters and well-greased leather. I can't smell the iodine, the peat is in the background and adds thickness. On the palate, it's really pleasant. You're sitting by the fire, warm under a blanket, and the spices are clearly present: paprika, pepper, nutmeg, as well as dried fruits, raisins and bananas. The finish is just as you'd expect, quite long but not too much, explosive, earthy, acorns, chestnuts, forest fruits.

 

In Short,

I thought it was really good. Much better than what we were used to with the Original Peaty and the Eilean Mor. It's not monstrous, it's certainly young, but it's well made. The price is acceptable; I'd say it fully justifies a purchase in a fairly short space of time.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Metric - Gold Guns Girls

Finlaggan Old Reserve

 

 

 

40° 

Distillery Officially Unknwon - Islay 

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Company Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in1992

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm 

Old Reserve is probably the oldest expression of Finlaggan, it seems to have been created at the same time as the company that produced it, in 1992. Its name is a bit of an antiphrase, because the liquid would be aged between 4 and 6 years approximately. But it is aged in Small Batches, only 200-litre Bourbon casks, which speeds up ageing.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Bourbon is felt right away, vanilla, fairly dry lemon, yellow fruits. It goes well with the peaty side, fine and grainy smoke, swirls of ash, very greasy charcoal. On the other hand, it somewhat masks the iodine, which remains in the background. Tide, kelp, foam. On the palate, it's oily, olives, pastry cream, some spices. The peat brings a nice thickness, but it remains light. Decent finish, not very long but effective, just enough explosiveness. Lignite, black earth, heather, coffee beans.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad. You can drink it quickly. It lets itself be swallowed without being aggressive. On the other hand, it leaves few memories. I was a little disappointed by the nose, which was too  much bourbon in my opinion. The rest is fine, but unremarkable. The Eilean Mor is more interesting, stronger in alcohol, it leaves more room for the distillate. The Old Reserve has no side interest, except a lower price. It's Caol Ila, in case you don't know.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          The Distillers  The Hunger

Finlaggan Eilean Mor

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2015

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

The main advantage of this bottling, launched in 2015, is that it is 46% ABV, which is not the case with Original Peaty. It may be slightly older too.

Let's Taste It :  

First a light sea breeze, oysters, foam, kelp, sand, iodine. Then limestone peat. Well-balanced, boutargue, shellfish. Fairly fine smoke. Coarse salt, not at all refined. Sea breeze. Guano, cob, fuel oil. And, yes, it seems like a bit of vanilla. As well as liquorice wood. The palate, on the other hand, is very clear, with pepper gradually coming through. Vanilla heavy with peat. Short, punchy finish, charcoal, earth, but also iodised salt and fish scales. Caramel and aniseed in retro-olfaction. This bears a strong resemblance to Caol Ila, I can't imagine what else it could be.  

 

In Short,

A very maritime nose and a pleasant style. A satisfying purchase, provided the price is right.

Score : 84

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Ram Jam - Black Betty

Finlaggan Original Peaty

40°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay  

Bourbon Casks

Indeoendentt Bottling

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2009

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

This bottling is quite old and well known to peat lovers. Some say it's Lagavulin, others say it's Caol Ila, but no one knows for sure. Ageing in bourbon casks is very likely.

Let's Taste It :

On the nose: salt, peat, salt. It's simple, direct, straight to the point. Well, that's not all, there's also ash, iodine, smoke, damp earth, limestone, guano. Wet grass after the rain. It's slightly medicinal. On the palate, the coarse salt combines with soft caramel, aniseed and a few spices. The finish is quite peppery, still salty, still spicy. The shade of salted caramel remains evanescent on the palate, but only for a short time. The lack of complexity is offset by the power of the coarse salt. Such simplicity was a daring move. I'm leaning towards Caol Ila.

 

In Short, 

The strongly iodised and peaty nose is very impressive. The rest lacks maturity and complexity. The value for money is very good, so why not let yourself be tempted, but don't expect great class.

Score : 82

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Gossip - Heavy Cross

Finlaggan Cask Strength

58° 

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Independent Bottling

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2009

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

This one is perhaps the most sought-after in the Finlaggan range, due to its high alcohol content and alsp a probable maturation in sherry casks. However, contrary to what is advertised, it is not cask strength. 

Let's Taste It: 

Concentrated iodine. Foam and sea breeze. Limestone. You can also smell the tide, the sand. And a touch of sherry, giving the whole a waxy quality. Smoke and a medicinal touch in the background, but which give a nice balance. The peat rises slowly, quite thick. On the palate, the sherry gives a slight cherry flavour, it's syrupy, but there's something rougher behind, very peaty, stony, then the spices rise. The finish is quite aggressive, but not too long, woody aftertaste. I'm sure it's C... Are we allowed to say it?

 

In Short, 

A great success, in the sense that it's not quite a Peat Bomb, because its profile is relatively softer than expected. Highly palatable, then, and at a very good price. 

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

  

                                           Scorpions - In Trance