Finlaggan Cask Strength (2019)

What’s Finlaggan? A single malt whisky, yes. But first and foremost it is the former seat of the Lords of the Isles and of Clan Donald. It is an historic site in Loch Finlaggan, not far from Ballygrant on Islay.

So it’s only fitting that a single malt called Finlaggan is actually produced on Islay. However, it’s somewhat of a secret at which distillery it actually is made. The location of Finlaggan is not much of a giveaway. I mean, I guess it’s fairly close to Caol Ila, but who’s to say that’s what actually goes into Finlaggan Single Malt.

Finlaggan Cask Strength (58%, Vintage Malt Whisky, 2019)

Nose: Peat, because, duh. But fairly sweet overall, with plenty of vanilla extract and a bit of smoked marzipan (is that a thing?), but also touches of licorice and brown sugar. Finally there’s a whiff of cured meat as well.
Taste: Yep, sweet arrival here too (cherry syrup). Intense peat smoke and even a bit of iodine, followed by ashes and fresh ginger. Somewhat chalky, and pretty salty.
Finish: Drying. Peat and spices. Long.

Score: 83

Intense and smoky, and I suspect that’s exactly what you’d want if you buy this whisky. If you love peated whiskies and you’re on a budget, this is one hell of a cask strength peat bomb.

Photo: The Whisky Exchange

Thijs Klaverstijn

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.