The Smokehead vary of whiskies is a product of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd., a family-owned enterprise within the spirits business. Smokehead was first launched by the corporate in 2006. It’s a barely uncommon bottling in that the precise distillery the whisky is sourced from is undisclosed. That is solely barely uncommon, as a result of there are literally a couple of of those thriller single malts doing the rounds (however extra on that under).
Ian Macleod sources the whisky, then handles all of the bottling, branding, advertising, and distribution underneath the Smokehead label. The primary-ever Smokehead was a NAS (no age assertion) whisky launched in 2006. Since then, there have been numerous releases within the vary, together with a cask energy (or “Excessive Voltage”) model, in addition to a number of different expressions with various kinds of cask maturations or cask finishes (and even a couple of expressions bearing age statements that I’ve by no means personally managed to put my arms on).
Smokehead Terminado was first launched in 2022. It’s not the latest Smokehead launch, as they’ve additionally launched some further rum-influenced variants. Nonetheless, Terminado is notable for its distinctive ending. The identify means “completed” in Spanish, and on this case, the whisky has been completed in ex-tequila casks. Precisely what kind of tequila casks are used is just not acknowledged on the bottle. It is a comparatively new kind of end for Scotch whisky, because the legislation was solely just lately modified to permit whisky producers to make use of tequila casks within the maturation course of. The tequila affect is alleged to impart delicate agave notes – which might embrace some tropical fruit, citrus, natural, or peppery notes.
Smokehead Terminado itself is a NAS, limited-edition, single malt from Islay, and is bottled at 43% ABV. It’s not clear precisely what is supposed by “restricted version” right here. There are nonetheless loads of bottles available on the market three years later, however they’ll doubtless turn out to be more durable to search out over time. In the meanwhile I can discover a bottle for round $56, which is roughly the identical value as a bottle of Compass Field Orchard Home. Though it’s not acknowledged on the bottle (or on Smokehead’s official web site), loads of exterior sources state that this specific bottle of Smokehead was additionally initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels earlier than the tequila cask end.
I have to admit that I fairly get pleasure from the truth that we don’t know precisely which distillery this whisky comes from (and Ian Macleod has achieved job of maintaining the key). I’ve heard from fairly a couple of people who find themselves assured that Smokehead is sourced from both Ardbeg, Lagavulin, or Laphroaig. However I’ve additionally heard it recommended that the whisky that makes up any specific Smokehead launch may differ from distillery to distillery. Maybe the unique Smokehead launched in 2006 hailed from Laphroaig, say, whereas Terminado is sourced from someplace totally different, like Caol Ila?
That component of thriller can add a layer of enjoyable and hypothesis to the tasting expertise, as individuals attempt to deduce the distillery of origin based mostly on distinctive distillery traits. I recall tasting Aerolite Lyndsay a couple of years in the past (one other single malt from Islay of undisclosed origin) and being satisfied it got here from Caol Ila. The residual aroma in my empty glass had the identical broad notes I detected in an empty glass of Caol Ila 12 (the place these residual notes within the glass weren’t apparent when nosing both of these precise whiskies). That there are solely a handful of distilleries on Islay makes this guessing recreation a bit simpler to play with associates – though one can by no means know for positive whether or not or not one is correct!
There are additionally fairly a couple of thriller single malts on the market that aren’t from Islay (Berry Bros & Rudd have bottled a thriller Speyside, for instance). One significantly mysterious bottle I got here throughout some time again is a 12-year-old single malt bottled by the Non-public Barrel Co. It’s a Scottish whisky that seems to have been bottled particularly for a neighborhood grocery store. That’s the one place I’ve ever seen it, so it’s unlikely to be discovered outdoors of South Africa. With out even a whisky-producing area on the label, nevertheless, the guessing recreation you’ll be able to play turns into a lot more durable (if not unattainable).
For no matter purpose, Islay appears significantly vulnerable to spawning these thriller malts. A part of the advertising that bolsters these types of releases goals to refocus shoppers on appreciating what’s of their glass – the whisky itself – fairly than getting caught up with the repute or status of any particular person distillery, or the final mystique surrounding Islay. In simply this vein, Smokehead’s web site has an announcement which reads: “It’s what’s inside that counts […] So, no fancy labels or pretentiousness, telling you to revere and respect the traditions of the island’s legendary blah blah blah.” There’s actually some attraction to this concept – I do respect the thought that we ought not be overly swayed by a distillery identify (though I additionally often respect having extra info at my disposal fairly than much less).
Smokehead Terminado – Evaluate
Color: Tawny (for some purpose I didn’t anticipate such a wealthy color).
On the nostril: Peat smoke upfront that feels slightly medicinal and ashy. A white-sugary sweetness. Some shortbread and ripe bananas. A bit of citrus. Theres slightly little bit of a tang lurking within the very background that makes me consider salt and vinegar chips. Some leathery notes alongside resin.
Within the mouth: Preliminary heavy woodsmoke, with some grapefruit. A bit of banana once more? The feel feels medium to skinny. There are some notes paying homage to pavlova. Extra white-sugary sweetness. A bit of bitter cocoa, and prickly white pepper. Lingering notes of smoke, honey, and iodine.
Conclusion:
I in all probability ought to have led with this disclaimer: I’m not a tequila connoisseur by any stretch of the creativeness (I’ve sampled solely a really small vary of tequila in my time). I’m guessing that the banana and sugary notes may be attributed to the tequila end, though it’s onerous to say for positive since these are notes that, technically, may simply as simply be present in whisky with out such a end. Provided that this whisky is closely peated, it’s price maintaining in thoughts that any affect from the cask end may very well be considerably overshadowed.
It’s maybe ever so barely on the expensive aspect of issues for me – it’s slightly costlier than a bottle of Aerolite Lyndsay (accessible for round $51), which once more is one other a kind of thriller single malts from Islay – besides Aerolite Lyndsay bears a 10-year age assertion, whereas Smokehead Terminado is a NAS whisky. Nonetheless an fulfilling dram, particularly in the event you’re a fan of smoke, with fairly a bit occurring if you will get previous the wall of peat.
I personally most popular the nostril to the palate on this specific whisky, as I fairly appreciated the imprecise hints of salt and vinegar. I wasn’t the most important fan of the candy sugary notes I detected, which have been just a bit too easy (if that is sensible) in addition to slightly too dominant on the palate.
