Finlaggan Old Reserve (70cl, 40%)

Finlaggan Old Reserve is a single malt from Islay, bottled at 40% in a 70cl bottle by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. It is part of the brand's core range and carries no age statement. The name leads to Loch Finlaggan on Islay, where the Macdonald Lords of the Isles held their power and where their inaugurations took place. The landscape on the bottle and box refers to that history. The nose joins earthy peat smoke with a salty sea breeze. On the palate, strong peat smoke sits beside sweet, dense malt, with pepper, tar and a touch of iodine. The finish is long and warming, with smoky notes reminiscent of the ashes of a peat fire.