This was a bit of an odd one to end our tasting with considering the venerable status of the other malts, but it was a welcome change of pace for the finale and finally a bit of peat to satisfy the peat monsters in attendance.

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Whisky: Isle of Harris 6 Year (2018), SMWS 163.1 “Smokin’!”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 58.1%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 6 Years (Distilled 9 April 2018, Bottled 2024)

Notes: Coastal and earthy, the aroma had a meatiness about it that reminded me of grilled sausages and sauerkraut. A barbecue at the zoo came to mind— food trucks on a grassy field with the soft scent of animal paddocks, wet hay, hamster bedding, dry grass, engine oil, and melon popsicles. Maritime and slightly medicinal with camphor— one member of the local group called out hot plastic, especially the Xerox machine or laminator in a busy office; it did have a touch of a campus copy room, especially one that allowed smoking (none have for many decades). Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was coastal, earthy, and meaty— the BBQ continued with cured meats, pepperonis, ink drums for the copier, melon popsicles, rum raisin cakes, and some violin rosin (or viola as the case may be). More cracked pepper and fruity chili peppers lingered further in, so that by the end we were abuzz about Mexican chocolates and vanilla bean-bourbon ice cream. The finish was long with a touch of peppery spirit, grilled sausages, passion fruit butter, and vanilla.

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Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Scranton Office Park Zoo BBQ Fundraiser

Conclusion: This was an absolute delight— it was a wonderful change of pace during our local tasting, and I thought it was even better when I poured it at home in isolation a few weeks later. The flavors were consistent each time I sat with it with the exception of the meatiness, which grew on subsequent evenings— those cured meats were more subtle the first time, but appeared in greater concentrations on the palate and finish thereafter.  Overall, wonderful stuff— I enjoyed the Herearch and this cranked that profile up several notches.