Review by: dustbunna

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Distillery: Unknown.

Bottler: Atom Brands.

Region: Highlands (heavily suggested Islands), Scotland.

ABV: 45.7%.

Age: 18 years. Bottled in 2023.

Cask type: Bourbon cask/Oloroso sherry cask finish.

Price: £62 GBP for 700mL.

Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Bottle open across approx. 4 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder (notes consistent throughout the bottle.)

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Nose: ashy smoke, seashells, chalk dust, red berries, diesel fumes.

Palate: medium body ~ more ashy smoke and red berries, orange zest, liquorice root, earth, talc.

Finish: long ~ more liquorice root and orange zest, gentian, pipe tobacco, charcoal briquettes, a sour citrusy note in the background.

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Conclusion: This is a mystery malt from Atom Brands, the independent bottler that makes ‘Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire’ among numerous similarly long-named releases. Much of the discussion around this bottling suggested that it was either Ledaig or heavily peated Talisker, and though the intensity and ashiness at relatively low ABV makes me think Ledaig, in our local tasting group we were equally split (and equally impassioned) about what the distillery might be. Regardless, for the low price for an 18yr heavily peated malt I just could not pass it up, and I’m glad I didn’t: it’s a wonderful and very quaffable whisky that feels at once coastal and herbal, well-rounded by the sherry cask maturation without feeling like the wood has overtaken the spirit.

Final Score: 86.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.