Elements of Islay Peat (Pure Islay)

Not a lot to say about this before getting into it, just that it’s a blend from a bottler that I’ve typically liked well enough and while it’s not really available by me, I am still interested in finding budget-friendly options for a nice peaty flavor. I was hoping to have this reviewed a bit earlier, but some antibiotics eliminated my ability to do so. Rather unfortunate as I had some whisky in a barrel that could have done with more checking rather than just withdrawing small samples every now and again, but oh well, that’s a complaint for when I “review” that.

Elements of Islay Peat (Pure Islay), Islay Blended Malt, 45% ABV

Minutia: Distilled at a handful of Islay distilleries and blended together. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Pale straw; 0.2.

Nose: Smoke. Some fruit (think apples and more in the green/yellow family, not quite red) that then fights to come out over ash and seaweed. Light and vegetal tone overall.

Taste: Earthy and herbal. Slightly sweet in the vanilla/fruit area. Not terribly smoky in the mouth. Or rather, the peat doesn’t present as smoke here.

Finish: Until now. There’s a rush back in of the smoke that was in the nose, and some pepper. It lingers as largely just a warm feeling with salinity creeping in over the course. Medium.

This is fine. It’s a peated whisky when you’re looking for one. I don’t like it as much as Big Peat for a whisky that delivers when you just want some peat that isn’t necessarily overbearing. It’s a bit light, but that’s not a knock against it. And it is a touch thin, but again this is situationally desirable. When you want a lighter whisky with some peat, it can be a good choice. When you want Islay go somewhere else.

Score: 81

Musical Evocation: UnSun – “Home”