Picti Tribe

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2021

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Islay Boys, painfully aware that there are also non-peated whisky lovers all over the world, have decided to adapt and produce non-peated whisky themselves. This is the Picti range, named after the Picti tribes, the tattooed people who ruled Scotland between the third and tenth centuries. Here we have a Single Malt from Speyside, more fruity and cereal-like, but as iodized as ever.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The profile is more classic, with vanilla, white plums and cereals, puffed rice, toasted wheat, prunes and banana. It's also woody, with leafy bark and chestnut bug. However, the iodine is still there, it's mineral, rocky, with tall grass and moss. On the palate, spices remain, turmeric, paprika, nutmeg, a bit of iodine, a lot of vanilla, and some hints from the countryside, ferns, hay, dry straw. Nice finish, on heather, conifers and a hint of charcoal. Cola.

 

In Short, 

I have to say that for a Speyside, it's a success! A characterful profile, more cereal than floral, more iodine than vegetal. A bit unusual. But if you're curious, you shouldn't be disappointed, for an affordable price.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Dax Johnson - A Moment in the Life

Picti Coast

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islands 

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys Ltd. 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2021

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Islay Boys, painfully aware that there are also non-peated whisky lovers all over the world, have decided to adapt and produce non-peated whisky themselves. This is the Picti range, named after the Picti tribes, the tattooed people who ruled Scotland between the third and tenth centuries. Here we have a Single Malt from the islands, very coastal but not peated.

Let's Taste It : 

A generous dose of iodine from the very first nose, followed by coarse sea salt, tide, foam, kelp, sea spray and seaweed. The gypsum of the cliffs, the sea breeze. Slight traces of motor oil and gas oil, but discreet. On the other hand, I didn't smell any fruit. The palate mirrors the nose, very maritime, with a few spices of the right sort, pepper, paprika, cumin. It's a bit like drinking seawater, but good seawater. The finish is fairly long, with hints of limestone and charcoal.

In Short, 

What an experience! I've never drunk anything so iodised, and without an ounce of peat. Very intriguing. Someone very well informed whispered in my ear that this was Scapa, and I'm delighted to discover this distillery, which is clearly full of treasures. The price is a bit high but still right, so it's worth a try.

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Brian Crain - Dream of Flying

Bårelegs Highland Single Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown

1st Fill and Refill Bourbon Small Batch Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys Ltd.

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 14 ppm 

Following in the footsteps of Islay Single Malt, The Islay Boys Ltd. is launching this Highland Single Malt from a distillery that is very representative of the Highland style, even though it is located within the boundaries of Speyside. The name Bårelegs refers to the Norwegian king who ruled the Scottish islands in the 11th century.

Let's Taste It : 

Syrupy iodine leading to thick vanilla. It's salty, maritime, but also a little rustic, with hay, earth, cereals, wheat, barley. It's like being in a stable. But the iodine returns, accompanied by a fine, light peat. Limestone, foam. Quite mineral on the palate, still iodised, with a few pleasant spices. Paprika, nutmeg. Light white fruits, plums, Italia grapes. Perhaps a few exotic fruits, pineapple. Fairly long finish, once again very mineral, salty, sandy.

In Short, 

It looks a lot like Ardmore (and in fact someone from the company told me it was). According to the reviews, it's 7 years old, with just the right amount of alcohol, so there's everything you need to enjoy it. It's reasonably priced, so why not give it a try?

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Greta Van Fleet - Age of Man

Bårelegs Battle Axe

 

 

 

55,7°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Refill Bourbon Small Batch Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys Ltd.

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2020

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

As a tribute to Magnus Bårelegs, King of Norway in the 11th century who ruled the Scottish Isles, The Islay Boys Ltd. have created their 2nd brand, which bears the same name, and in particular this Battle Axe, made from a Single Malt from the Isle of Islay and bottled at 55.7°, which corresponds to the latitude of the Islay Rhinns, where our two Islay Boys, Mackay Smith and Donakd McKenzie, come from.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's mineral, like you're nibbling at the cliffs, your nostrils full of iodine, the tide, the foam, the kelp, it's all there, we're on Islay. The wind is strong and the weather damp, but we can still smell varnished wood, tall grass and soft, spongy earth. The peat is very grey, ashy, thick and sticky with seawater. It smells like a charred log. On the palate, spices, ginger, pepper, cumin, a few more loads of iodine, mineral peat and a full ashtray. The finish is very good, explosive, as long as one could wish, never-ending, yet it ends in a symphony of iodine, peat and various minerals. Beautiful salinity. Stones. Gypsum. Clay.

 

In Short, 

It's excellent, with everything an Islay peat lover could ask for, lots of iodine and sea spray. I thought it was Caol Ila, but one of the company's officials, who holds a very senior position, assured me that it was Lagavulin. I don't think he lied to me. If you're a fan, you'd better get your hands on it as soon as possible.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Black Label Society - Sold My Soul

Bårelegs Islay Single Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Refill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys Ltd.

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

The Islay Boys are two Islay natives who have created several brands, including this one, in tribute to a certain Magnus Bårelegs, a Norwegian Viking from the 11th century. The source of their juice remains a secret, but it is, of course, peaty as it should be.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A strong iodised nose, with just the right amount of peat. Citrus fruits, dry earth, fresh wood. I can tell that this is a Lagavulin in all its adolescent tenderness (seven years old, I'm told). Candy sugar, almond. Limestone. Yes, that's it. On the palate, it's unfortunately a bit young and light, but it's salty, maritime, lemony, rocky, foamy, kelpy, more peat, everything you need. Brown sugar. Good finish, very slightly acidic, with grapefruit. Salt stars, damp sand, marshes.

 

In Short, 

It's really very nice, and at a more than charitable price. I recommend it for lovers of good peat. It was one of the two Islay Boys who told me it was Lagavulin, but I'm not so sure, it could just as well be Caol Ila.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           The Church - Under The Milky Way