🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

A powerful, exciting dram that immediately raises the question: Is the surprisingly present smoke really just coming from the cask – presumably an ex-South Islay refill – or is a peated Glenturret at play here? The smoke is certainly not subtle: campfire, BBQ aromas, and a hint of salted peanuts are clearly evident. The latter note would almost automatically be associated with Caol Ila—but geographically, that's obviously out of the question for a South Islay barrel. (Unless Marco got the barrel from a particularly crooked compass...) What's equally striking, however—and almost a trademark of many of his bottlings—is the rich, full-bodied sweetness: Dark chocolate, caramelized notes (slightly burnt), a hint of vanilla, and even a trace of sugared almonds contribute to the intense, almost creamy sweetness. The whole thing is beautifully rounded off by white pepper heat and a subtle bitterness reminiscent of coffee beans. In the mouth, the whisky is wild, powerful, yet approachable—at 56% ABV and 12 years old, it's a true statement. Powerful, sweet, smoky—and yet so distinctive that you'll want to spend some time puzzling over what exactly happened in the cask.