The youngest one of the bunch, I guess. The label of this smoky beast doesn’t give much information. No age, no distillery. Just the ABV and that its from Islay. The stated it was a whisky from a “south-coast distillery very rarely available as an independent bottling”. The first thing that came to my mind was Lagavulin, but I am far from sure on that one after tasting it.

Nose:
The nose is big on hay, salt and fishing nets. Quite some iodine. Very typically Islay, but it gets more coarse after a while. Starts singing your nostrils a bit. Quite a fiery dram.

Taste:
This is a bit sweeter than I expected it to be. It does build up some strength when you keep it swimming for a few seconds. Very nice, usually its the other way around. I get quite some vanilla and maybe some cactus? A crisp creamy feeling.

Finish:
The finish is also quite fiery with a load of ash in there as well. Dry peat smoke with most of what I got on the nose popping up again. Dried heather.

The first time I tasted this, I wasn’t too thrilled. Maybe because I expected a more Lagavulin-like flavour pattern, but this seems to me to be Ardbeg. A little more often available as an indie. Although they sold some casks to Adelphi that I know of (I have a 9 and an 11 year old).

Now I’ve taken my time to taste it properly again, I am quite charmed by this little belter.

Islay Whisky, 58.5%, The Whisky Exchange 10th Anniversary. Used to cost about € 50

Nose: 8
Taste: 7
Finish: 7
Overal experience: 8
Price/quality: +2

Total: 32 points