Shelter Point Smoke Point

Today's KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar entry is a Shelter Point Rye, but as I have two other expressions from that distillery on hand, I thought I'd make today a trilogy (I'll do the rye last). The first is a mini of their Smoke Point, which is aged for five years in American oak ex-bourbon, then finished in over 18 months in ex-Islay casks. It is a grain whisky, distilled from malted and unmalted barley, and like all Shelter Points, is non-coloured and non-chill-filtered.

The colour is a light-to-medium amber. There is smoke on the nose, but not too much - like the dying embers of a bonfire. Burnt caramel, buttered toast, band-aid and orange pith. Gets briny and slightly balsamic with water. Extremely complex though it does seem quite young, despite some pretty serious oak going on.

On the palate the smoke recedes a bit and the caramel is pushed forward. Lots of sea salt. Vanilla, overripe banana and yes, peat smoke (which gets more apparent over time). Water adds oak and more peat. Easily as complex as the nose.

The finish is charred oak, salt-and-pepper and chili flakes. This has the profile of a young-ish Canadian single malt, but with added body and peat smoke - very interesting and a joy to sip on. I still think it could use a bit more time in oak (the ex-bourbon, not the ex-Islay) but it's still really good stuff.