Furneaux Distillery Flinders Island Peated Double Oak Whisky
Made with Tasmanian barley smoked post-malting with Flinders Island peat, the nose on this whisky is fascinating - almost like smoked chocolate - and like nothing I've ever smelled in a whisky before. Truly unique in a way that's rare in the world of whisky. Grassy and earthy aromas like freshly cut green capsicum are almost reminiscent of mezcal but without the underripe or volatile notes of a whisky bottled too young. There's enough oak and smoke here to round it out, along with lovely notes of maple syrup sweetness and orange zest, and the integration of oak and spirit is impressive. It's rare to have a smokey whisky that still smells so fresh, so that's ... refreshing. Powerful alcohol on the front palate dissipates quickly to a lovely roasted and candied macadamia nuttiness, and again the integration is impressive with a surprisingly easy, sweet finish. It could use more oiliness and texture to match the alcohol - it isn't a drink for those afraid of a little heat - but on the other hand, it's very drinkable for a whisky with so much power. Incredibly impressive for such a young distillery. Are there peated Scotch whiskies on the market that are better priced for similar quality? Yes. But this is a truly unique whisky made in a truly unique place without the backing of multinational corporations, and that's worth paying for.
