Advent Calendar Day 5: Elements of Islay Cask Edit

Elements of Islay was launched by Speciality Drinks Ltd, now Elixir Distillers. Their Cask Edit release is a blend of single malt from an unspecified south coast Islay distillery along with a fruitier style from an unspecified distillery on the north coast. It is a naturally colored non-age statement whisky that’s been aged in first fill and refill bourbon barrels and sherry casks and is non-chill filtered. It is bottled at an ABV of 46%.

Nose: Smoke, vanilla, iodine, chocolate, brine.

Palate: Very smokey, wood smoke and peat smoke. Caramel, brine, creme brulee.

Finish: long, oily finish with salt and a maritime brine and a light caramel sweetness.

Notes: Smells like Lagavulin. The taste reminds me a bit more of laphroaig, but there’s a slight taste of something that reminds me very strongly of an artificial sweetener. I’m not saying that there’s a sweetener in it, but there’s something in there that just triggers that association for me. It’s a bit between an artificial glycerine sweetener and that aftertaste I get from sucralose. If it wasn’t for that sweetness I’d enjoy it much more. I don’t know if this is just a tasting note that hits me wrong, or if something is throwing my palate off. I didn’t alter my usual timing and routine for my whisky reviewing, so I don’t think it’s my palate, but I do wish that I had more than just the 3cl sample so I could try this again another time and see if I still get that saccharine note. As it is, I have to drop its score a bit.

Despite my dissatisfaction with the sweetness, it is a solid Islay whisky that highlights some of the best aspects (elements, if you will!) of Islay: peat, smoke, and strong maritime notes.

Score: 7.7/10