Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek Embers 2018 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.5%

Embers are what is left when the flames have gone out but the heat keeps going. That is a fair description of what peat smoke does to a whisky bottled without a filter.

Expert description

Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek Embers 2018 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength, 58.5%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

Embers is a variation on Blackadder's Peat Reek theme, bottled in May 2018 in a run of 620 bottles. As across the series the distillery is not disclosed, but the whisky is an Islay single malt and peat is the load-bearing component. The bottling strength sits slightly below the 2016 release, which gives a rounder expression.

The Raw Cask method means the whisky is only coarsely filtered before bottling. The result is a texture noticeably fatter than conventionally bottled whisky, and a flavour with nothing sanded off.

Tasting notes

Nose

Embers and wet ash, with sweet barley, salted liquorice and a little grilled lemon. An earthy, almost loamy note sits beneath the smoke.

Palate

Thick and round with soot, caramel and peppery spice. The smoke is constantly present, but cask sweetness keeps it from drying out.

Finish

Long and warm with ash, seaweed and a final flick of salt.

Specifications

Name: Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek Embers 2018 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.5%
Bottler: Blackadder
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 58,5%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: May 2018
Number of bottles: 620
Edition: Raw Cask Peat Reek Embers
EAN no.: 5055030617341

Flavour profile

Smoky · Salty · Earthy · Sweet · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A limited bottling of 620 bottles from a series whose individual releases are not repeated. Demand for unfiltered Islay bottlings has held steady.

Did you know?

Blackadder takes its name from the Blackadder Water, a river in the Scottish Borders — not from the television series, as many assume.

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Frequently asked questions about Blackadder Raw Cask Peat Reek Embers 2018 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.5%

What separates Embers from standard Peat Reek?

Embers is its own bottling with its own cask make-up and a slightly lower alcohol level. The smoke reads rounder and more ember-like, where the 2016 release is sharper and more iodine-driven.

Is 620 bottles a small run?

Yes. It corresponds to roughly two casks and is a very limited release in whisky terms. Once they are gone, no more of this exact bottling will follow.

Why does the whisky turn cloudy with water?

Because it is not chill filtered. The fatty compounds that give the whisky body drop out when temperature or alcohol strength falls. The haze is a sign that the whisky is bottled naturally.

How should I pour it?

Pour slowly and stand the bottle upright beforehand so the sediment stays put. Use a glass that gathers the aroma, and give the whisky five minutes in the glass before tasting.

What actually is peat?

Peat is compressed, partly decomposed plant matter from bogs. When it is burned to dry the malt, the smoke settles into the grain and travels all the way to the bottle.

Does it work with food?

Smoked and salted food suits it best. Try it with oysters, smoked mackerel or a strong blue cheese — salt and fat take the top off the alcohol and lift the sweetness.