We kicked off our exploration of Smokehead earlier this summer time with a take a look at the flagship providing and its bolder, cask energy sibling. These bottles are joined within the Smokehead lineup by a trio of distinctive cask completed expressions (with a fourth, stout-finished providing on the way in which). Ideas comply with.
Smokehead Tequila Cask Terminado – Completed in tequila casks for an undisclosed time interval. The peaty punch of the flagship is nowhere to be discovered on this aroma, which presents as an alternative notes of darkish honey, vanilla bean, minimize grass, and a refined lacing of tarry smoke. The palate is mild and candy and a bit flat on the outset. Skinny notes of cream soda finally give option to a gently floral midpalate of sandalwood and incense that builds into the end with a peppery spice and a fast finale of flamed orange peel and overcooked butterscotch. The tequila cask has actually rounded a number of the smokier, dirtier edges of traditional Smokehead and added some new parts, however there’s nonetheless one thing of a void to fill on the flavour entrance. 86 proof. B / $80
Smokehead Sherry Cask Blast – Previously dubbed Sherry Bomb, this single malt has been aged for an unspecified period of time in Spanish sherry casks. From the nostril, it was a wholesome maturation (or very moist ending casks) as a result of the sherry notes have virtually fully overtaken the trademark peat reek, coalescing into notes of grilled barbecue sauce, orange marmalade, and a pruney sweetness. The palate is gently warming and well-balanced with notes of darkish cherry, peppered bacon, clove-studded orange, and campfire smoke. The end relinquishes a few of that heavy sherry character, returning to matchheads and soot, earlier than a last lingering rum raisin notice. The most effective sipper within the lineup. 96 proof. A- / $80
Smokehead Rum Cask Insurgent – Completed for an unspecified period of time in Caribbean oak casks. It’s mildly soapy on the nostril with delicate creosote and chimney notes. There’s nothing significantly rummy that jumps out, however issues are a bit much less meaty than the usual providing with brighter notes of lemon oil and maybe some overripe banana within the combine. The palate reveals a bit extra of the ending with prime notes of torched sugar and darkish, virtually bitter, molasses which don’t fairly mesh with the tarry smoke and treacle sweetness of the core whisky. The end is brief however lastly reveals some welcome steadiness between all that ash and a latent grilled pineapple sweetness. Not precisely a summer time sipper, however it might make a extremely bizarre Mai Tai. 92 proof. B / $80
Smokehead Tequila Cask Terminado
$80
