Lagg Heavily Peated Inaugural Release (50%, OB ex-Oloroso Sherry Cask, B#2, b.2022): nose: 'peaty', you said? Despite the young age, the peat is integrated (but not 'subtle'; let us not go crazy) and harmonious, reminiscent of farmyards, and cattle-trampled pastures, crusty earth, and, to some extent, stagnant water, or algae. Next to that earthy character are cedarwood and a pinch of ash, then pickled courgette. The least one can say is that that is original! Soon, the courgette is eclipsed by dusty newspapers, kept in a damp basement, and a tiny dollop of wax. The earthy influence grows back to prominence, now mildly smoky. The second nose appears to put the accent on the wax, and it adds pencil shavings, as well as horse's hair. Mouth: a soft attack quickly allows a veil of earthy smoke to settle and envelop the tongue. Here, we note a little acridity, a delicate wood bitterness too, yet they are soon overtaken by a lovely (subdued) dark honey. Further sips are sweeter, offering smoked light brown sugar, or smoked sugar cane, amongst cedarwood splinters. An undercurrent of ash remains, for the attentive taster -- it is far from obvious. Finish: rather big, but controlled, the finish welcomes more of that refined, earthy peat , that, instead of the steamroller a three-year-old whisky could have presented, goes toe-to-toe with a honey-like sweetness, and only a small amount of ash. Perhaps this is akin to sipping peach liqueur, whilst observing the surrounding fields burning. The second sip is in line, yet it adds nori, or smoked freshwater algae. Unlike nori, however, it is not salty. Actually, it is its sweetness level that grows bolder with subsequent sips. Later on, burning cherry tree lingers, long after the above have all vanished. Well done, Isle of Arran. This quality, after only three years!... A strong... 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, MR)
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| In other news: bit foggy, today |
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