Whisky: Peat’s Beast 25 Year Islay Single Malt, Fox Fitzgerald

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 52.2%

Cask: Refill Hogshead, Virgin Oak

Age: 25 Years (Bottled 14 Sept. 2017)

Nose: Maritime and herbal, tobacco, earthy with sandstone or slate, driftwood, burnt toffee, dried kelp chips, tar, cedar, seafood stew.

Palate: Medium to light body, salty and sweet, oily, kelp candies, phenolic, buttery, brine, metallic, shellfish, herbal, citrus at the end.

Finish: Long and lingering salted butter and herbs.

Score: 7+

Mental Image: North Shore Shrimp Truck

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was pleasantly maritime and herbal, with tobacco and salty waves breaking against sandstone or slate sea cliffs. Sun-bleached coral and driftwood opened up with sweeter notes of toffee tasting in a seaside village, hints of shellfish soup stock, drying kelp, tar, and weathered cedar beams. The palate was light to medium-bodied but quite oily, with sweet and salty tides that pushed and pulled the experience in different directions. Kelp candies came to mind with sweet, phenolic peat, cream, and buttery roasted seafood. The occasional wash of brine was accompanied by hints of copper and rusted iron. Toward the end, herbal notes suggested prawns in butter with sage and lemon. At the same time, citrus grew louder with tangerine and grapefruit. The finish was long and lingering with salted butter and herbs.

The internet suggests a couple of possibilities for this mystery Islay malt. I would bet on Allied-era Ardbeg for my money, though I would be more than willing to hedge my bets and put equal down on Bowmore. Bottled in 2017, the twenty-five-year age statement suggests a 1992 distillation, a vintage from which many independently bottled Ardbegs originate. I thought this was quite similar to some of the other Ardbeg from the year, so while definitive evidence is hard to come by, I feel reasonably confident.

Overall, I found this deliciously coastal with well-balanced and integrated flavors. However, I did wish the finish was more intense. We poured this during a local blind peat whisky tasting, and the bottle came in first as best of the evening, edging out an Amrut, an older Bowmore, and a Ledaig.