Cask No. 10.174

Cask No. 10.174                         

Deep, visceral, almost smutty – and great!

Islay

Nosing it, the smoke is not huge – but evokes a range of associations – doctor’s bag, salt-grilled prawns, toasted hazelnuts and coconut, wood shavings, coal cellars, and wintergreen. On the palate, however, the smoke is big – beach barbeque, ships timbers, menthol vapour rub, marmalade on burnt toast, embers, ash and something between root beer and ginger beer. The reduced nose stirs up memories of resin and model glue, harbours, rock-pools and slate, Halls Soothers and Extra Strong Mints. The palate combines menthol cigarettes, hemp rope, black jacks, coal-tar and burnt prawns, with just enough toffee sweetness – deep, visceral, almost smutty – and great.