Mystery Review
Color: Amber -1
ABV: ??? (40% ?)
Aroma Neat:
Peat, Dried Soil, Young Spirit (malt, I think), Stale Pepper, Woody Smoke, Barbecue/Smoked Meats, Lemon (a trace), Charcoal Dust, Ash, Vanilla (lightly), Varnish/Acetone.
Young, peaty, seemingly malty, I'd have to guess this is a Kilchoman! Then again, there is a tang which makes me think that maybe this is one of those mesquite-smoked whiskies.
Aroma Water:
Mesquite, Young Spirit, Acetone/Nail Polish Remover, Ashtrays, Coal Dust, Vanilla, Pepper, Lemon Pith (slightly).
Alright, with water I'm pretty sure that smokiness is not coming from peat. Quite ashy.
Taste Neat:
Ash, Wood Smoke, Pepper, Young Spirit, Gasoline-Soaked Rags, BBQ Potato Chips.
Whoa, a real mouthful of ash. Like liking an ashtray, really.
Taste Water:
Vanilla, Sweetish White Oak, Wood Smoke Smoke, Black Pepper, Young Spirit, BBQ Potato Chips.
Similar to neat.
Finish:
Ash, Barbecue Dry Rub, Smoked Meats, Ground Black Pepper, Green Wood, Vanilla.
Ashy/immature wood balance on the finish. Pretty different.
Conclusion:
Interesting aromatic smokiness defines the nose.
Very ashy palate neat, that becomes sweeter and lightly woody with water.
Medium duration finish that's obviously young, like the rest of the whisky, but characterful and certainly not boring.
Rating: 75/100
The spirit itself seemed malty to me at first. With water though, it took on a certain oiliness that reminded me of corn distillate. I really can't venture a guess. A young Islay, maybe? The smoke doesn't seem quite as peaty as I'd expect for that. The smoke is aromatic, making me think that maybe this is smoked with something bizarre. No, I think I'll trust myself and assume this is very young malt whisky. Maybe Kilchoman 3 year old?
Nope, I checked and it's actually Hamilton's Islay, a blended whisky from with malt components from Islay. I guess it was peat smoke after all. My first nosing impression was the closest! At least I got the country right this time!
Josh
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