Malt | Peat | Roasted nuts | Toffee | Campfire | Hint of caramel | Scotch forward

Light oak | Burnt oak | Barrel char | Malt | Smoky peat | Nutty with a caramel base | Well integrated scotch influence

Smoky peat lingers | Light spice | Medium length with a rich yet delicate delivery

According to the company’s press release, “Islay Scotch Cask Finish is crafted from a pair of complementary flavored mash bills, including a Scottish style bourbon recipe containing peated malt, naked oat malt, and honey malt. Each batch is made from a blend of three finishing casks, sourced from three different distilleries in the southernmost part of Scotland.” Islay Scotch Cask Finish is the second release of Chattanooga Whiskey Co.’s limited edition Barrel Finishing Series, following Tawny Port Cask Finish which was released in March, 2021.

For those unfamiliar with Scotch terms, Islay refers to a rocky island off the southern coast of Scotland where peat covers a good portion of the island. Popular distilleries include Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin,

Chattanooga Islay Scotch Cask Finish manages to layer in manageable, well-defined, and naturally integrated Scotch flavor notes with this barrel finished release. The characteristic Scotch flavor notes layer in overtop a bourbon-esque base that has just enough oak and caramel to ground it, but that still allows the Scotch-focused flavors to be the star of the show. It’s an exemplary bridge between bourbon and Scotch, and one that even bourbon drinkers who prefer to remain on the fringe of Scotch will find enjoyment with.  

The bottle being reviewed is from Batch 22A13R.