Yesterday, Michiel Wigman’s newest bottles came in. I didn’t buy this one, but I did get a sample of it. I’m simply not one to spend this kind of money on a single bottle. I have never done so, and so far I’m fairly convinced I neverwill.

Although, I was convinced that € 180 for a bottle of Port Ellen or Brora was way more than the booze was worth too, and I’d never spend that much on any bottle. We all can guess how that went.

Anyway, contrary to the ‘They Inspiried’ series for the other whiskies, and the ‘Precious Moments’ series for non-whisky booze (Cognac and Rum so far), this one is called ‘Prometheus’ and I’ve forgotten to ask Michiel why that is.

But, enough rambling. There whisky to be tasted, and that’s what we’re doing here.

Sniff:
It’s an older whisky, that’s for sure. It’s quiet and gentle, not even packing a punch that I would expect for a 53.4% ABV bottle. There are notes of hay and tall grass. Some coastal salinity and a hint of resin. Quite some oak, green and pulpy. To my own surprise I also get a hint of peach, and a tiny bitter note of peach stone. Some seaweed later on.

Sip:
Again, the notes of peach and peach stones are here. It’s very consistent with the nose with hay, seaweed, resin. Some salinity and lichen, moss, basalt maybe. Something old, weathered and green.

Swallow:
And once more, the consistency between nose, palate and finish is incredible. I do get all the notes from earlier, but there’s a hint of vanilla added to the flavors.

This is a whisky with two different faces, not unlike yesterday’s undisclosed highland whisky. On one hand, it’s a gentle and time-mellowed Islay whisky. It’s rather typical of the distillery and of the island if you disregard the smoke that most distilleries are famed for. Lots of grassy notes, with some salinity.

On the other hand, it does feel a bit closed. I’m not sure if I had to coax out the flavors a bit more (not sure how to do that, by the way), but apart from the grassy and slightly salty notes, there’s not too much going on.

So, much like yesterday’s review, it’s a very good whisky but not entirely in my wheelhouse.

88/100

Thanks to Michiel for the sample!