If I have been consistent about one thing since I started this website, and I know it is not my spelling, it is that I have always been excited about smoke and sherry, particularly one of my favorites... Bowmore 15 Darkest. This 18 year is a similar expression (approx. 80% sherry casks I believe) and of course it is a few years older. As with many of these types of maritime / island malts the nose is dominated by the peat and smokiness, but some sherry driven fruitiness can be found as well. The taste is rich and complex with fruit, smoke, seaweed, sweet milk chocolate and pepper. Smoke lingers into the finish along with pepper, salt and then the sherry as it dries out. Forced to choose I would probably still pick the Bowmore 15 Darkest, but this is a damn good alternative.
My Handcrafted Opinions on Whiskies, Distilleries and Other Related Stuff
