Southshore Islay Malt 6 Years Old (Whisky-Fässle)
If there’s any whisky that performs well at a young age, it is peated whisky. Combine that with the popularity of peat bombs, and that’s probably why we’ve seen so much Islay whisky bottled at a young age.
This Southshore Islay Malt from Whisky-Fässle is only 6 Years Old. Technically you could bottle something at half that age and still call it Scotch whisky, but in reality you don’t see ’em much younger.
From which Islay whisky distillery does this hail? Well, you’ve three options really. Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Lagavulin. Let’s taste and see if any characteristic rings a bell.
Southshore Islay Malt 6 Years Old (52,3%, Whisky-Fässle, 2015)
Nose: A lovely, sweet peat influence with a hint of cigar tobacco. Ripe banana, tinned pineapple, and lemon peel. There’s some beeswax too, as well brine and ozone. Reminiscent of the Lagavulin 8.
Taste: Mouthcoating with peat, rubber, and tar. Quite spicy as well, the chili peppers are dominant, with some olive brine too.
Finish: Peat and charcoal. Rubber too. Loooong.
Rating: 86
At first we were in Lagavulin 8 territory, a whisky that I like A LOT. But the palate doesn’t have the same depth. Regardless, this is an excellent, young peaty Lagavulin (I think 😉 ).
Sample provided by Whisky-Fässle
Photo: Whiskybase
Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.
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