Created to mark the 2020 Campbeltown Malts Festival, which was derailed by the COVID. Distilled in 2006 and bottled at CS, initially matured in first-fill barrels before being transferred to American oak hogshead casks seasoned with tawny Port. A combination of 75% heavily peated spirit and 25% medium peated spirit to bring more smoke and work with the tawny port finish, 1st fill tawny port for 7-8 months.
Appearance: Vibrant Tizer orange. Nice thick coating when swirled with good tide mark, beading almost immediately and forming thick legs.
Nose: Peat forward with BBQ meats and jam (weird meal!). Big liquorice aroma too. There is a coastal element too. Seaspray and sand. A tinge of dustiness, just keeping things interesting!
Palate: Wonderful oily and luxurious mouthfeel there’s quite a lot of initial heat, chillies mostly. Then, after this settles, there’s the peat, red berries, blackberries, salted caramel and digestives.
I like that the sweetness wins through the spice and then you get the coastal elements again. A real journey.
Finish: Medium/long fruit pie, smoke and black pepper.
Overall: it’s my joint-favourite so far with the Seasonal Release. I love the changing flavours and the peatiness against the fruit.
