Smokehead
Pungent Ian MacLeod Islay Malt
0 287
Review by @Victor
- Nose23
- Taste22
- Finish21
- Balance21
- Overall87
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Smokehead is an Islay Single malt from Ian MacLeod. There is no age statement. Thanks to @Pudge72 for the reviewed sample
Nose: strong intensity, sharp, pungent, piercing smoke, peat, and brine. The peat is a combination of both sweet and bitter. The underlying barley smells good, too, in a supporting role. Beautiful, really, and better than I was expecting. Water rounded, mellowed, and bundled the flavours
Taste: very crisp in the mouth, too, with the taste of smoke almost stronger than the smoke in the nose; effective and strong translation of the nose flavours. Water dilutes and brings out bitterness
Finish: the peat and smoke just camp out on the tongue; better, less bitter finish without water
Balance: hard-core smoke and peat lovers will love Smokehead. For 43% abv these are extremely intense flavours. A reviewer who values above all else Big Flavours and is a Peathead might well rate this whisky 92-95 pts. Complexity is limited to the peat and brine related flavours, though. Smokehead tastes to me closest to a very smokey Lagavulin
Find where to buy Smokehead whisky
Have you tried the D&T's The Big Smoke 60 (120 proof)? If so, how does that compare with the Smokehead that you so graciously reviewed, Victor?