As We Get It Islay Single Malt 2020

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd.

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

 

 

 

This is the 4th batch that I'm tasting from As We Get It Islay Single Malt. The previous one didn't seem quite as good, but perhaps that's just my palate becoming more demanding. The fact remains that this brand has endured over the years, with a concept that is as simple as it is revolutionary: a very young, very peated whisky, with very discreet maturation. No changes are made to the whisky once it leaves the cask. They remain true to their principles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A little less iodised and a little more herbaceous than its congeners. Nice freshness though. You can smell the sea spray, the tide and a good dose of salt too. Rock, quartz and sediment. Candied angelica. Rhubarb. Steep cliffs. Slightly vanilla-flavoured seawater. Thick, almost solid smoke. Limestone on the palate, rather spicy. Pepper and cumin. Again, a good dollop of peat. Long, charcoal finish, dark chocolate and graphite. A spoonful of ash.

 

In Short, 

This one seemed to me to be less iodised and more herbaceous, right from the first nose. Inevitably, I liked it a lot less. It's still powerful, lively and fresh, but it loses some of the maritime intensity that I loved. I'll have to taste it again to confirm, but I'm a little disappointed. Fortunately, the following Batches that I tasted do not have the same flaw. You can buy them without worry.

Score : 87  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Wolfheart - The Hunt

Smokehead Tequila Cask Terminado

 

 

 

43°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

American White Oak Casks and Tequila Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

 

 

 

After the Sherry, Rum and Stout finishes, here comes the Tequila casks finish. Smokehead dares to do everything. It's an adventure you've got to try.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Despite the presence of peat, the nose is very sweet, it's concentrated sugar, with some fruits behind, mostly exotic, lychees, guava, pineapple. A dash of vanilla and lemon, agave juice, but it's also calcareous, with a slight astringency. And iodine. Cane sugar. It's light on the palate, almost ethereal. The peat is strong, but more in the background. Green fruits, exotic plants, unpretentious spices. The finish is very strong despite the low alcohol content, quite long and explosive. Fine sand, a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

Like the Twisted Stout, it's not quite right on the nose, the palate is pleasant without being remarkable, but the finish is good, and that makes up for it a little. I was interested in the Stout finish, but not at all in the Tequila one, so I'll pass on the possibility of buying it, especially as the price is out of all proportion.

Score : 86  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cold Chisel - When the War is Over

Smokehead Twisted Stout

 

 

 

43°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks and Stout Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered

 

 

 

Another limited edition from these gentlemen at Smokehead. This time, it's an original idea that I find very good, as I love stout. Of course, we don't know how many bottles were produced, and it's coloured, but I think it's worth a try.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smoke at first. Then, when it dissipates, it's very sweet, though strongly peaty. Lemon and soft caramel, slice of grapefruit and green tea. Coal and fuel oil are very present. Where's the stout? There is some, but it's light, the bourbon predominating. Wood, dark chocolate and coffee, cloves. After a while, it all balances out quite well. Very velvety on the palate, with a hint of woody stout behind the vanilla. Rather quiet spices, cumin, nutmeg. The stout is more present on the finish, but it remains unconvincing, although pleasant, chocolate and earth, peppery coffee. Quite long and pleasant.

 

In Short, 

On the whole, it's a success, especially the finish, which is well handled. But it's not quite balanced and doesn't have enough stout flavour for me. I think the price is a bit high, and I'm not sure I'd consider buying it, even though on paper it's the sort of thing I'd fall for.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Wolf - Dust

As We Get It Islay Single Malt 2021 Second Batch

 

 

 

61°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited

Limited Edition  

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Up until now, they had only released one batch a year or so, but in 2021, the gentlemen at Ian MacLeod Distillers had the luxury of releasing two editions of the famous As We Get It Islay Single Malt, a certainly very young product from a secret distillery  that is bottled cask strength, without adding anything, as they say. So this is the second batch, bottled just a few months after the first, and released in December. It is all the more surprising that nothing has been released in 2022, at least for the time being.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep Iodine, tide, sea spray, waves whipping your face. Kelp, seaweed, seafood. Intense peat, with some white fruits, plums, mirabelles, greengages. Very fresh. Frost, sea breeze in winter. Pleasant palate, a little less intense, simple, smooth, a hint of vanilla, then very strong spices, cumin, black pepper, cloves. A zest of lemon, anise. Atomic finish, long, disturbing, oysters, whelks, razor clams, lobsters. Rusty. Silt. A coal line in the rock. Swampy land.

In Short, 

The different editions follow each other and are very similar, which is good. However, it seems to me that this one is the least good of the last few years, with a palate that's a bit light. Overall, it's very seaworthy, less honeyed than the previous edition. Even more raw, I think. The price is as attractive as ever if you're careful, and a purchase would be advisable if you're an aficionado.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Michael Romeo - Metamorphosis

Smokehead Sherry Cask Blast

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon and Sherry Casks, Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered

 

 

In 2021, Sherry Cask Blast takes the place of the Sherry Bomb, which has been released every year since 2018. Why such a name change? Because the maturation process is not the same. The Sherry Bomb was aged entirely in Oloroso Sherry casks, the Sherry Cask Blast was first matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks, and only finished in Oloroso casks. What's more, the Sherry Cask Blast seems to have had colouring added, whereas the Sherry Bomb does not. Everything degrades. That said, this is still a limited edition of 18,000, so we'll see if it's really worse.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nice thickness of the Sherry, sweet red fruits, raspberry coulis, leather, caramel, nice balance with fat coal and violent, herbaceous, marine peat. Blackberries, blueberries, lignite. A few drops of tar, still hot fuel oil. A touch of lemon to sweeten things up. Pleasant and fruity on the palate, strawberry, raspberry, well-managed spices, paprika, white pepper, nutmeg. Hints of earth. The finish is long and sparkling, with cola, slush, humus, burnt wood, blackcurrant.

 

In Short, 

To my surprise, it's about as good as the Sherry Bomb, perhaps even a little more balanced and mastered. They're doing well. As friendly as ever. On the other hand, the price is only slightly lower, although the maturation must have cost them a lot less. Inflation is taking its toll, or the demands of shareholders, I don't know. Obviously, I'm less enthusiastic, but the quality is there. We're still a long way from Uigeadail.

 Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Devin Townsend Project - Deadhead

Smokehead Rum Rebel

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Bourbon Casks and Caribbean Rum Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

To further diversify the Smokehead range, Ian MacLeod's scientists came up with the idea of finishing it in rum casks. They first launched the Travel Retail version in early 2020, Rum Riot, and then it was on 16 August, International Rum Day, that this edition went on sale. Unchill-filtered and without colouring, which is always good, but the number of bottles produced is not mentioned. It's a limited edition, but today, two years later, it's still fairly easy to find. The peat content is not given either, but I suspect a good old 50ppm, like its big brother Smokehead Islay Single Malt.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An explosion of fresh and maritime peat from the very first nose. Violent, cavernous, charcoaled. Seaweed, sea foam, kelp, but also cold, damp stone, rust, fuel oil. You can barely smell the rum barrels, which add a pleasant sweetness of grilled pineapple, lemon pulp and pastry cream. A successful marriage. The palate is a bit light, but smooth, a nice contrast to the aggressive nose. Thick peat, but also cane sugar, barley sugar and vanilla. Still clean, despite some spices. Quite a long, successful finish, lignite, cola, mashed banana.

 

In Short, 

It's nice to have an expression finished in rum casks, just a year after Ardbeg Drum. Admittedly, it's less complex, but more powerful and sweeter. The price is exaggerated, but within reasonable proportions. For those who would like to have a pleasant, well-peated Islay that still bears a strong resemblance to Drum (I'm just saying), but at a better price, and with packaging that will shock your grandmother and scare your grand-nephew, why not?

Score : 86     

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Walk in Darkness - Walk Like Heroes

Smokehead Islay Single Malt

 

 

 

43°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Hogshead Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2006

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Launched in 2006, Smokehead Islay Single Malt aimed, with its provocative packaging, to attract young people to the complex and surprising flavours of peat. The gamble paid off, and we see that this humble Single Malt has been around for 16 years. The packaging has changed in 2018, but certainly not the recipe. The famous skull and crossbones have remained, which is a good selling point. Rumour has it that this is Ardbeg, and indeed Ardbeg is one of the only distilleries that peats its malt up to 50 ppm. The other is Kilchoman, and they certainly don't have the means to supply sufficient stock for such a bottling. I also find the profile very similar to a young Ardbeg. It's also said to be a Caol Ila aged in Ardbeg casks, but that seems a bit fanciful to me. Personally, I think it's aged in Bourbon casks, but there's nothing official about that. On the other hand, it is certainly cold-filtered and coloured, and that's bad.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose offers a beautiful explosion of vegetal peat with a hint of lemon, which is the trademark of a very well-known distillery. It's violent, maritime, salty, seaweed, foam, rock with damp lichen, mud, oysters, kelp, iodine. But it's quite sweet nonetheless, with well-balanced citrus fruit, which is reflected in a relatively smooth, pleasant palate, with a drizzle of honeyed vanilla; it's like the calm after the storm, everything suddenly settles down. The finish is a little disappointing, very peppery but not that long. Charcoal, fuel oil, lignite, scorched earth. It's almost caramelised.

 

In Short, 

Not bad at all, it has to be said, starting with a very peaty nose that transports you to a Scottish cliff, followed by a rather friendly and pleasant palate that tames you. The finish, however, is less exciting. All in all, it does the trick if you can find it at a low price, but since Ardbeg Ten is only slightly more expensive, it will always be better to buy the latter.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Interrupters - Take Back the Power

As We Get It Islay Single Malt 2021

 

 

 

60,8°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

 

 

 

Every year, Ian MacLeod Distillers offers us a new batch of As We Get It Islay Single Malt, a whisky from an unknown Islay distillery, very young, cask strength and not cold filtered. A concentrate of Islay. This year is no exception.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iodine rain. Shards of salt. Brownish sea foam. Rising tide. Kelp, limestone, gypsum, chalk. Swirling smoke. Faint traces of vanilla, a grape or two. Seaweed caresses bare feet. On the palate, the peat stands out, it's quite violent. Earthy vegetals, drowned in thick smoke. A few drops of honey. A little unctuous. The finish is uncommonly explosive, very long, charcoal concentrate, a mouthful of black earth, cola, nutmeg, it takes your head off, and there's no end to it. And yet it's not aggressive, it's got just the right amount of kick. Bark at the end, a few berries.

 

In Short, 

It's as good as ever, I even wonder if it's better than the 2019 edition which I've already had two bottles of. I think it's Caol Ila, although I'm not entirely sure, it's really very peaty and slightly honeyed, maybe Kilchoman, but that would be surprising. 

Score : 88   

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Marilyn Manson - Third Day of a Seven Day Binge

The Six Isles

 

 

 

43°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay and Islands

American Bourbon Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Core Range 

Blended Malt

Launched in 2009

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

There are 140 Scottish islands, and only nine of them have whisky distilleries. This Blended Malt, which has been available since 2009, brings them all together, with the exception of Lewis (home to Abhainn Dearg), Harris and Raasay (home to the two young distilleries of the same name), making 6 islands: Islay, Jura, Mull, Orkney, Skye and Arran. For 4 of them, there is only one distillery on the island, so we know which one it is: Isle of Jura, Isle of Arran, Talisker and Tobermory, Torabhaig being far too recent to be included in the composition of this Blend. As for the other two, it's a mystery. We can assume that they are Highland Park and Caol Ila, but nothing is certain. This curiosity is marketed by a sub-brand of Ian MacLeod Distillers called William Maxwell & Co.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A beautiful nose full of iodine and limestone, coastal, where you can see the cliffs rise, the gulls soar and the waves break. Sea foam, kelp, oysters, the air of the open sea. A few white fruits as well, quite light, white plums, Italia grapes. Liquid honey. Heather. Not bad at all. The palate follows the same lines, iodine, light peat, red spices, turmeric, saffron, paprika. Fresh apples and pears. A pinch of pepper and salt. Quite a long finish, not at all disappointing, charcoal, earth, seawater. Silt.

 

In Short, 

It's rather pleasant, a sort of synthesis of all the characteristics of island whiskies. The price is reasonable, and you can satisfy your curiosity by buying it. In the same profile, I seem to prefer the Rock Island, but I think a comparison would be fun. 

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          The Pretty Reckless - Heaven Knows

Sheep Dip Islay

 

 

 

40°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

1sr Fill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in1974

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

Marketed by The Spencerfield Spirit Company, acquired by Ian MacLeod Distillers in 2016, this Blended Malt brings together whiskies that all come from the island of Islay. However, the peat is not very intense. It has been aged between 8 and 12 years in first-fill Bourbon casks. The name Sheep Dip refers to the whisky casks that were sold under the counter in the 19th century to avoid paying taxes to the English government. They were always marked SD.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fine smoky nose and pleasant peat. A bit sweet though, with the influence of Bourbon coming through, vanilla, citrus fruits, pastry cream, iodine freshness. White fruits, plums and grapes. On the palate, it's the same: it's hard to recognise the Islay profile because the peat is so well integrated and discreet, it's very vanilla-flavoured. The spices are well trained. The finish is quite long and good, coaly, earthy, pine nuts, hazelnut, cola, heather. Warm chestnuts.

In Short, 

It's not too bad, but obviously when it comes from Islay, I find it hard to remain objective. It's still a table whisky, but given its low price, you can afford to buy it.

Score : 84

                                          To Be Listenedd While Sipping :

  

                                          Cam Cole - New Age Blues

Isle of Skye 18 yo Limited Edition

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Talisker amongst others - Islands 

Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Core Range

Blended Whisky 

Launched in 2015 

Peated around 15 ppm

Built on a similar profile to the 12-year-old, this elder is a blend of Isle of Skye malt whisky (Talisker of course), of Speyside and grain whisky. The influence of Sherry casks is noticeable, although there are no precise details on maturation. Although it says Limited Edition on the bottle, it appears to be a Core Range.

Let's Taste It : 

I can feel the coastal influence, the tide, the sea spray, the foam, but there's also a certain sweetness, it's quite round and well-balanced. Cereals, dried fruits and a few apricots. Wheat, banana, quinces. It's easy to drink, well-crafted, but unremarkable. On the palate, the fruits are light, with a line of salt and a bit of iodine. The finish is a little disappointing, short and not very full-bodied, struggling to take this whisky to a conclusion worthy of its age. Muesli, dry earth, grapes.

In Short, 

It's not bad, but it's not worth its age, and the price makes you laugh. However, at just a bit over 40°, it could be interesting. For the moment, it's just enough for an aperitif.

Score : 85

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Jon Bassin - Appalachian Moon

Isle of Skye 12 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Talisker amongst others - Islands

Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd. 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky 

Launched in 2010

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

Isle of Skye is one of the many sub-brands marketed by Ian MacLeod Distillers, and has been since 1963. It would appear that the 12 year old was launched in 2010, its distinctive feature being that it was aged mainly in Sherry casks. The liquid is a blend of island whiskies (Talisker, of course), of Speyside and of grain whisky.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It has the coastal profile of Talisker, but much less pronounced, the tide, the sea spray, the foam, a certain salinity, but rather on a very calm beach with no wind. Rounder, fruitier, mellower, with hints of ripe apricot and chocolate pear. On the palate, still fairly smooth, with fresh figs, slight peat and iodine. Finally, a successful finish for such a low alcohol level, pretzels, pine cones, walnuts and fine sand. A touch of charcoal, a fireplace that has just gone out.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad. I didn't really smell the Sherry, but I suppose it gives it body and fruitiness. It's OK, but why buy it when you can get the Talisker 10yo for the same price?

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Logan Halstead - Kentucky Sky

Pig's Nose

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Invergordon amongst others - Highlands, Speyside, Lowlands, Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd.

Core Range

Blended Whisky

Launched in 2017

 

 

 

In 2016, The Spencerfield Spirit Company was acquired by Ian MacLeod Distillers, and among the package was that institution lauched in 1977, The Pig's Nose 5 yo, a Blended Whisky made with malt from 3 Speyside distilleries, one from the Lowlands and one from Islay, and of course grain whisky (around 60-70% of the total product) from the Invergordon distillery. Its name comes from the fact that somebody claimed that this whisky was as smooth and mellow as a pig's nose. Shortly after the takeover, the age was removed, but the name and recipe remained more or less the same.

Let's Taste It : 

A light, cerealy and woody nose, quite earthy, more like soft and damp earth. Porridge, quinces, dried apricots, glue and varnish. Nice balance, the youth of the product is not too noticeable, you don't feel too much the alcohol. On the palate, plums, greengages and mirabelles, ripe pears, a few tart apples. Of course, there's some coarse grain, puffed rice, hay, harvest. But it's still very light. Finish full of old wood, bark, heather, resin, perhaps a coniferous forest.

In Short, 

For a Blend, it's not bad at all. It is drunk effortlessly. OK, it's not revolutionary either, it's a good Blend, but it's still a Blend, something you drink when you've got nothing else at hand.

Score : 82

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Merle Haggard - Today I Started Loving You Again

Smokehead Sherry Bomb 2019

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

The first batch of the Sherry Bomb was released in 2018, and it was such a success that every year since then they've offered an additional one. This is the second edition.

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry and charcoal. A deep, flavoursome sherry, quite suave, and then this powerful, herbaceous touch that makes me think of a specific distillery, whose name begins with the first letter of the alphabet. Very ripe red plums, morello cherries, quince jam, drowned in fairly thick peat. And a slightly caramelised, grimy charcoal that adds structure to the whole. The peat gradually becomes suffocating. Cinnamon, brown sugar. On the palate, very sweet at first, grenadine syrup, raspberry, resin, liquid honey, then the spices rise, chilli, peppermint, clove, ginger, mustard, a dash of nutmeg, a pinch of salt. The finish is earthy and vinous, with heather, damp bark and a hint of caramel. Cumin, cocoa beans, very slightly bitter.

 

In Short,

It's a great success. For an independent bottling with no age statement, this is as good as it gets. I wonder if this isn't the best blend Smokehead has made since launching the range. The price is a little high, but not enough not to tempt you.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Dream Theater - Untethered Angel

Smokehead High Voltage

58°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By Ian MacLeod Distillers

Core Range  

Single Malt
Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 The reference edition in the Smokehead range, it has enough alcohol to justify its presentation.

Let's Taste It : 

Right from the start, a violently herbaceous peat, recognisable from a renowned Islay distillery, located in the south of the island, whose name does not begin with L. It's dark and damp, as if you were walking through a tunnel. Ash and white fruits, vanilla, a hint of citrus, caramel and wood. With the addition of water, it becomes a bit swampy, a trace of elderberry, mould and a medicinal touch. On the palate, it's young but easy to drink, obviously very peaty and vegetal. Perhaps a pinch of salt. The finish is explosive, with hints of wood and caramel, really pleasant and quite long. A metallic aftertaste in retro-olfaction. It's all very nice, but don't forget that for an extra 10 euros you get the Uigeadail.

 

In Short, 

A true Peat Bomb, as medicinal as it is smoky, which will not disappoint fans, and at a very enjoyable price.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :  

  

                                           Iron Maiden - Rime of The Ancient Mariner

'As We Get It' Islay Single Malt 2019

60,6°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling
By Ian MacLeod Distillers
Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Since the turn of the century, bottler Ian MacLeod has regularly released a new version of this 'As We Get It' from the Isle of Islay, with no indication other than that it has not been altered in any way since it left the cask. However, it does not appear to be a single cask.

Let's Taste It : 

Granitic, stony, heady peat. A wisp of smoke. Heather, iodine. Pebbles in the bed of a very clear river, at the top of the mountain. A note of humus. With the addition of water, an ounce of white fruits. Wax. White chocolate. After a few minutes, tyre and tar, a vague medicinal touch. On the palate, it's a bit young, but already velvety, herbaceous, vanilla-flavoured, fairly sweet, not at all alcohol-laden, salty and slightly fruity. White pepper, spices, then a very pleasant finish, vegetal, vanilla, just the right amount of bitterness, not too violent and quite long. Caramel and nails in retro-olfaction. It looks like cask strength Machir Bay, but I'd say it's Caol Ila, after a great deal of hesitation.

 

In Short, 

It's really excellent, provided of course that you're an unconditional enthusiast. It's still young, and very peaty. The nose and finish are exceptionally intense.  

Score : 88

                          

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : 

   

                                          AC/DC - Thunderstruck