Smokehead is an innovative Islay single malt whisky brand owned by Iain Macleod Distillers. The Smokehead Twisted Stout, as the name suggests, has been part-matured in ex-stout beer barrels. It will be available from www.smokehead.com and specialist whisky retailers worldwide. It joins the core range products of Smokehead, High Voltage, Rum Rebel, Sherry Bomb and Terminado. The Smokehead Twisted Stout is bottled at 43% ABV and will cost £50 a bottle.
Smokehead is an Islay single malt brand that is owned and bottled by Iain Macleod Distillers. They also own the Glengoyne, Rosebank and Tamdhu single malt distilleries. Smokehead was first released in 2006 and stirred up the whisky category at the time with its then unconventional look and contemporary packaging. This has since had a revamp several years ago. The whiskies are from an un-named distillery on the famous whisky island of Islay.
"Twisted Stout is as far away from a standard single malt as the combination of tastes, aromas and flavours inside the bottle. So, while all our releases come with an original twist, this latest one might just be our most twisted yet. Which is just how we like things."Iain Weir / Brand Director of Smokehead.
Our tasting notes
The colour is deep gold and the nose is sweet and peaty. Rich and vegetal smoke rises from the glass. This has aromas of damp soil, wet moss and drying seaweed plus a hint of charcoal-like ashiness. There is also a yeasty quality and a defined golden syrup-like sweetness with a hint of black treacle.
On the palate this whisky again marries sweetness and smokiness together well. The acrid and slightly medicinal peat smoke has a hot and ashy edge, which is reminiscent of dying bonfire embers. It is less vegetal and green than on the nose, but this element is still there. Damp moss and soil notes mix with something butter and herbal, plus a hint of salty dried seaweed and a drop of iodine.
The sweetness fights its way through the intense smoke to add great balance. Notes of golden syrup and vanilla fudge are at the forefront and are joined by further notes of milk chocolate, sweet milky coffee and cinder toffee. There are also hints of treacle tart and burnt caramel. A late peppery heat and even later hint of ginger cake come through nicely too.
The finish is of decent length with the smoky element returning to dominance. The sweet characteristics fade to leave a drying ashy feel. This draws the finish out and gives a lovely mouthwatering quality. A late pinch of warming baking spices, especially cinnamon, accentuates this further.
What's the verdict?
This is another fine offering from Smokehead and one that takes traditional peated Islay single malt in another different direction. This something that the brand is building a reputation for with previous releases that have involved ex-rum and ex-Tequila barrels. Now the ex-stout beer casks have added a yeasty and chocolate-like depth and character that is very enticing. The balance between the bold smoke and intense sweetness works very well. Well worth searching out if you love big flavours.
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