87 / 100
The port and coastal Islay character make an appealing contrast: Tawny port and a touch of sweetness sit alongside salinity, seaweed, and earthy peat. I especially like that the finish leaves the port behind and settles on barley, oak, and smoke, with sweetness still present but not overpowering. There’s no stated finish length, so I wouldn’t call it long or short; the change in emphasis is the more interesting detail. It reads as a peated malt that keeps its Islay character while letting the port influence have a clear, but not dominant, role.
Reviewed by shortwave compass
- Nose
- Tawny port, Gentle smokiness, Oak influence, Coastal smoke with salinity, Dried seaweed, Earthy peat
- Palate
- Peppery bite, Smoky peat, Barley, Oak, Slightly fruity, sweet, and syrupy Port flavor
- Finish
- Port recedes, giving way to barley, oak, and smoke, A touch of sweetness