Finlaggan Old Reserve / 40% / 0.7l

Finlaggan Islay Single Malt is named after the castle, former residence of the island's rulers.

The brand is owned by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, founded in 1992 by Brian Crook, based in Glasgow. Mr. Crook does not disclose the source of the whisky bottled as Finlaggan, but claims that the Old Reserve version is based on distillate from one and only one distillery. In 2000, Finlaggan Old Reserve won a gold medal at the annual International Wine and Spirits Competition. It is an example of solid whisky for little money.

Aroma : fresh, smoky, with elements of earth, lemon peel, traces of honey, vanilla and sweet cereal flakes.

Taste: Strongly smoky with a good dose of candy and vanilla sweetness, but also notes of dry oak and nutmeg.

Finish : quite long, malty and smoky with a delicate trace of brine.