Finlaggan Old Reserve

Finlaggan Old Reserve had peat written all over it. Even to a point, where it got a bit one-sided. Especially the nose was a bit dull, even though it was strong.

It's actually quite rare for a peaty whisky to get only 20 points from me but this one I had to give such "low score".

Finlaggan's source has been a guarded secret but it has to be something young from Islay. Lagavulin or Laphroaig perhaps, because of the iodine feel?

Finlaggan Old Reserve is definitely The Sorcerer's Apprentice. There's been some magic waiting to happen that of course, didn't happen because the "training period" (=maturing) ended too quickly.

Nose: First there was hints of not so nice ashtray that turned into nice burnt coal but then it got strongly peaty and stayed that way. Peat and once again peat!

Taste: Earthly and peaty with some iodine effect in the mix. Sweet stuff with some oaky hue.

Finish: Surprisingly short. Sweet peat flashes by with some hints of dry oak.

Balance: Feels young and just like a prototype of some finer peaty whisky. But because it's peaty, I still like it...as far as I can remember, so far only one peaty whisky has had under 80 points from me (Kilchoman Machir Bay). So it's an easy task to win in my book, if you're manufacturing peaty stuff.

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