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Malts of Scotland Images of Islay 'Finlaggan'

Plasticine

0 385

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

27th Jun 2014

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  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    85

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Malts of Scotland
  • ABV: 53.2%

The Castle of Finlaggan was once the Islay seat of the Clan MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles, built in the 13th Century. Today only a ruin remains. The new Images bottling by Malts of Scotland got the name Finlaggan and hence is an Islay whisky, but the distillery remains anonymous. Just like the other releases in this series, this Finlaggan is also bottled at 53,2% ABV. It is very pale.

The nose is a wonderful mix of plasticine, finger paint, stockfish, smoked ham and apples. Some cashew nuts in the mix. Loads of earth. Wet earth. Rocks in the surf and something of a dying hearth. Oyster sap? Celp? A drop of lime, just a drop. It takes some times before it becomes sweeter on vanilla and more apples.

The attack is creamy and sharp at the same time, if that makes sense. The peat talks first and gives it a herbal and slightly sour edge that is immediately snuffed out by vanilla and apples. The smokiness is quite big. The salt loses ground in favor of the sweetness. Or does it? It goes back and forth like a yo-yo. Smoked ham, rind included, stands out. Wonderful!

I would not have minded a slightly longer finish, but the sweet smoke that lingers makes you crave for more.

I have no idea which distillery this is, but if I were a gambling man, I would say Caol Ila. Laphroaig and Lagavulin would be my second and third choice. But who cares? This is just plain good and that is what counts. Around 80 EUR.

3 comments

@Frost
Frost commented

@markjedi1 thank you for the interesting review. I can't find much information on this bottling online. I recently tried a sample at Whisky Live 2014 and enjoyed it, I think your rating is a fair one.

The rep claimed he was not disclosed which distilleries the malt is sourced from, but kept referring to Coal Ila and Lagavulin for the nose and finish respectively. So...who knows?

9 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 commented

Well, @Frost, I just heard that it is in fact a Lagavulin.

9 years ago 0

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