After my experience with the Campbeltown Connection, I was ready for another train ride aboard North Star Spirits. The label here looks closer to the sort of commuter rail we have locally, so it had a certain appeal. Of course the blend of Bruichladdich and Bowmore malt was intriguing in its own right, especially if some of the lactic and creaminess of one might play nicely with the coastal fruits of the other.  When I picked up a second bottle of the Campbeltown, I also grabbed this.

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Whisky: Islay Connection Blended Malt 10 Year (2015), North Star Spirits

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 50.4%

Cask: Bourbon Barrel, Refill Sherry Butt

Age: 10 Years (Distilled 2015, Bottled 2026)

Notes: The aroma offered digestif biscuits while strolling past an oil slick on the beach— tar, brine, sand, sea shells, and sea weed. Kakimochi hung out with sesame seeds, salt, and hints of slightly floral spice for a peppery, burnt, salty experience. Medium-bodied on the palate with a buttery quality, the flavors were similar with fried rice crackers, salt, shoyu, butter, though more subtle malty biscuits. Maritime brine and tar were slower to come forward and join cracked black pepper, charred lemons, and charcoal soot. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with pepper, ash, sea spray, and more rice crackers.

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Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Kakimochi Chocolate Chip Cookies

Conclusion: The Bowmore element stood out more than the Bruichladdich, but I suspect those kakimochi elements came via the sherry cask the Laddie was matured in. I typically get those notes when there is a bit of sulfur to the sherry or wine cask, and while this never felt sulfured, those salty rice cracker notes were hard to miss— I usually call them arare, but this reminded me a specific brand which uses the term kakimochi (you might also call them senbei).

While this was not as good as the Campbeltown Connection, it was still a wonderfully balanced peated whisky. The profile was a dirtier and more savory than the maritime fruits I hoped to find, but it still had plenty of dirty coastal goodness to it.  Overall, a versatile dram— at about $85 after shipping, I have no regrets.