Elements of Islay Peat Full Proof (59.3%, Elixir Distillers, 2020)

• ABV: 59.3%
• Age: NAS
• Bottling: Elixir Distillers, Elements of Islay
• Category: Blended malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £38.95 available from The Whisky Exchange
• Origin: n/a
• Vintage: undeclared

What they say

Elements of Islay is a range of iconic small-batch whiskies, celebrating the diversity of flavour that make Islay malts so special. Each laboratory-style bottle is distinguished by a symbol that denotes the distillery and batch number.

Peat is a marriage of Islay single malts that was created as a loving tribute to the island’s bold, uncompromising style. It combines heavy, smoky notes from the south with a fresher, medicinal character from the north. Drink it with friends, mix it in cocktails, or simply sip for a taste of Islay.

The standard-strength release of Elements of Islay’s Peat. Bottled at 45%, this has the same classic Islay character as Full Proof – notes of fruit, spice and smoke – but with less power that makes it a great introduction to Islay whisky.

Official tasting notes:

• NOSE Fresh, sprightly barley entwined with peat smoke and bonfire embers. Bracing aromas of salty seaweed and seashells. Plenty of clean fruit – lemon, lime and grapefruit, while hiding underneath are notes of rich earth and liquorice.
• PALATE Warm and leathery with thick-cut bacon, seashore campfires and roasted fruit: sweet apple and lime with a sprinkle of caster sugar. Layers of smoke and dark-chocolate limes envelope the palate and are intertwined with softer lemon oil and BBQ sauce, with hints of roasted spices and barrel char, complementing the peat and smoke.
• FINISH Sea spray and baked apple fade leaving heavier smoke, truffle salt and sweet spice.

What I say

Sampled during the WOLS Elixir Distillers tasting hosted by their Brand Ambassador Julie Hamilton. Dram #4 was another heavily peated expression and also reasonably higher in ABV.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Barely gold (2/20), large tears and thick legs.
• Nose: Smokey, oily peat smoke, sweet honey, malted barley, salty sea spray, a little funky barnyard, lactic, metallic, some citrus fruit and white chocolate.
• Taste: Young and aggressive, plenty of peat smoke character, smoked bacon, lemon oil, white chocolate and vanilla, possibly overpowering at cask strength.
• Finish: Long, smoky, salt and spiced fruit, apples.

Overall

Quite a surprise to find this is the same Peat offering but at Cask Strength, I think I much preferred the reduced version for drinking. Surprisingly different considering this is just the same whisky at higher ABV!

Score 82/100

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