Nose: the dominance of bourbon oak gives it a very clean profile. Strong peat with a generous creamy note, think cream soda with shortbread and hints of vanilla cream. Then hints of banana cake, some coconut aromas. After a while also a honeyed, lightly tropical hint that reminds me of modern Bowmore production. Some coastal elements in the background.
Mouth: same echoes of Bowmore in my opinion, albeit with a firmer peaty footprint. Hints of mango, lime and pink grapefruit, along with honey. Then it moves to caramel before the charred herbs make it drier and a tad harsher. Gets a little woody, with a charred and tannic edge.
Finish: long loasting, with more charred notes, fading peat smoke, black peppercorns and charred rosemary.
A good option if you’re into heavily peated Campbeltown whisky. The nice fruitiness of this release is a positive surprise, in my opinion.
Serge Valentin (85)
Predominantly ex-bourbon (90%). While NAS, the pricing remains fair if the quality holds up (€65-70). Colour: light gold. Nose: fresher than its sherried counterpart and distinctly youthful, with hints of medicinal alcohol, tincture of iodine, damp earth, a fair amount of baker’s yeast, and lime juice. The peat is notably less aggressive than the ‘heavily peated’ moniker might suggest. With water: much the same, with young spirit notes, bandages, and a touch of antiseptic (mercurochrome). Mouth (neat): youthful, showcasing eau-de-vie (Gravenstein apples), lemon, green pepper, and unripe walnuts. Slightly sharp. With water: that eau-de-vie quality persists, bordering on new-make, which, I must admit, has its charm. Fresh mushrooms make an appearance, while the peat stays relatively restrained. Finish: long, youthful, lemony, with walnut and apple peel. Comments: I do enjoy this, though a touch more maturity would elevate it further. Not overly ferocious, either.
