SmokeHead Unfiltered Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%

The smoke arrives first. Before you have time to think peat, seaweed or tar, it has already filled the glass. Smokehead has never tried to be polite, and Unfiltered is the one where the gloves come off.

Expert description

Smokehead Unfiltered is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46%.

Smokehead is a peated Islay malt from Ian Macleod Distillers, and the company has never said which distillery supplies the whisky. Unfiltered is a stripped-back take on the familiar bottle. The strength is raised from 43 to 46%, and the whisky is not chill filtered, so the oils make it into the glass. There is no age statement. The casks are ex-bourbon and add a little vanilla and sweetness, but the smoke is the one calling the shots.

The box promises sea salt and spice, and it delivers. The smoke is thick and earthy, the salt comes straight off the sea, and underneath it all sits a sweetness that keeps it from turning into plain ash.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heavy smoke with earth and charred wood. Stout, ginger and vanilla step in behind it, and given a little time a touch of citrus appears.

Palate

The smoke settles over the tongue like a blanket. Oily walnuts, dark chocolate and black pepper follow, with a faint sweetness underneath.

Finish

Long and dry. The smoke lingers, a medicinal, herbal edge creeps in, and the walnuts and cocoa fade out last.

Specifications

Name: Smokehead Unfiltered Islay Single Malt Whisky 46%
Bottler: Ian Macleod Distillers
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: No age statement
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010852049589

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Salty · Spicy · Dark chocolate

Did you know?

Ian Macleod has never revealed which Islay distillery is behind Smokehead. People guess freely at the big peated names along the south coast, but the company says nothing.

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Frequently asked questions about Smokehead Unfiltered

How does Smokehead Unfiltered differ from the standard Smokehead?

Strength: 46% against 43%. The rest of the difference is in the name, because Unfiltered is bottled without chill filtration.

How smoky is Smokehead Unfiltered?

Very. Peat smoke leads on both nose and palate, with earth, salt and black pepper behind it. The producer does not publish a ppm figure.

Which distillery makes Smokehead?

It has not been disclosed. Ian Macleod Distillers bottles the whisky but has never said which Islay distillery supplies it.

Should Smokehead Unfiltered be drunk with water or ice?

Try it neat first, then add a single drop of water if you want it to open up. Ice mutes the smoke and the oily notes. A proper whisky glass holds the aroma better than a tumbler.

What food goes with Smokehead Unfiltered?

Smoked salmon, hard cheese, blue cheese and dark chocolate all work. The smoke needs some fat or sweetness to push against.

Is Smokehead Unfiltered a good start for someone new to peated whisky?

It is a tough place to begin. If Islay is new to you, the standard 43% Smokehead is a gentler way in, and to see what peat does to flavour you can read our guide to peat and smoky whisky.