Finlaggan Old Reserve Islay Single Malt 0,7 l

This single malt is a textbook example of an Islay whisky. The Finlaggan Old Reserve comes up with a peaty character that is very distinctive of products from the Isle of Islay.

Its smell is already full of smoky peat. Additionally, it shows an aroma of phenol, a hint of sweet fruits and a soft breeze coming from the sea.

On the palate the Scotch presents itself clear and dry. In the beginning a smoky and earthy peat aroma fills the mouth. Furthermore, hints of sweet fruits as well as a nuance of iodine can be detected.

The elegant finish sticks to the smoky character, too. It has a medium length and offers besides the smoke some spicy oak.

The Isle of Islay is part of the Inner Hebrides in the southwest of Scotland. Known as the “Queen of the Hebrides”, it is inhabited by about 3500 people. Even though the island is neither big nor having a large population, it is the home of eight whisky distilleries.

This fact already adumbrates the importance of whisky and the tradition around its distillation. Finlaggan, however, is not one of those eight distilleries but a brand that is controlled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company Ltd.

This company is an independent bottler and guards the secret of the whisky’s origin very closely. Thus, it would be speculated to say which distillery produces the Finlaggan Old Reserve.

The name Finlaggan derives from an old castle that was built on Islay in the 13th century. The Finlaggan Castle was a home to rulers and kings of the island. Today just a few decaying ruins are left and remind of the glorious past.

The Finlaggan Old Reserve has a very lovely smoke flavour, which also convinced Jim Murray. In 2007 he awarded this single malt Scotch 94 of 100 points.