Torabhaig Sound of Sleat - 46%
From the Torabhaig website
This single malt whisky is made using a mix of Concerto and Laureate malted barley with an in-grain phenols level of 78+ PPM and in-glass phenols level of 14.5 PPM. It is fermented with Pinnacle MG+ yeast and aged solely in Quercus albs American Oak. It is bottled at 46% with no chill-filtration or colouring.
Maturation
75% First-fill Bourbon Barrel
20% Virgin American Oak Cask
5% Refill Bourbon Barrel
Wood: Quercus Alba American Oak
Barrel Size: First Fill Bourbon / Refill ASB (200L) & Virgin American Oak HHD (250L)
Time in Cask: 5 - 6 years
Appearance: The colour of golden straw, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Sweet smoke, caramelised orange slices, stone fruit, honey, vanilla and coastal sea breeze
Palate: Gently warming and mouthcoatingly creamy. Sweet bonfire smoke, sea salt, raw honeycomb, vanilla and a prickle of black pepper. Water brings a little more spice but flattens the overall experience
Finish: Oak spice, honey and coastal salt linger
Overall: This is the fourth chapter in the Torabhaig Legacy series and the evolution over such a short space of time is quite remarkable. The mouthfeel is a real highlight, bringing a smoky warmth and leads beautifully into notes of honey, vanilla and maritime salt.
Bottled at a reasonable 46%, for me this is a whisky which shows off its best features without water. That youthfulness of the spirit seen in earlier bottlings is almost gone, and now feels well integrated. Indeed, for a whisky with only 5-6 years in the cask it drinks a few years older. The result is a highly enjoyable whisky, and a dangerously drinkable one. There is now a batch strength expression available, bottled at 60.2%, which may well head onto my ‘one to buy’ list.
