Finlaggan Port Finish (70cl, 46%)

Finlaggan Port Finish is a peated Islay single malt, bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. It is a small-batch release first introduced in 2016 and bottled independently by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. The whisky matures first in former bourbon casks and is then finished in port pipes, which bring red fruit and sweetness to the smoky, savoury peat. It is non-chill-filtered, and colouring is added. The nose is sweet peat smoke with smoked bacon and summer fruit. On the palate the smoke thickens, with raspberry and strawberry, a chewy peat character and a hint of old leather. The finish is long and recalls peat-fire ash, with sweetness arriving late.