Scotch Review #69: Blackadder Peat Reek Embers

Distillery: Undisclosed, rumored to be Ardbeg

Cask Ref: EMB7, Bottled May of 2018

Region: Islay

ABV: 58%

Age: NAS

Cask Type: Sherry Cask

Price: $17.25 / dram during Happy Hour

Color: 0.9, Amontillado Sherry. Natural Color and Non-Chill Filtered.

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Nose: There’s a hint of sherry and a bit of ethanol but there isn’t really a whole lot going on in this.

Palate: Delicious, fire-y peat (not really smoky, more of the charred flavor you get from grilling) along with a bit of sherry. There’s a bit of sea salt and some toasted nuts. Overall, it is pretty balanced in flavors—not too savory, not too sweet.

Finish: Shortish in length and a bit dry. There’s loads of oak in here.

Conclusion: Pretty straight forward dram. It’s got a nice savory charred flavor to it along with a hint of sweetness from the sherry finish. I’m not particularly impressed by the nose or the finish but the body of this is pretty solid. Would I buy a bottle? Maybe.

Final Score: 80.

Scotch whisky review #69, Island review #12, Whisky Network Review #92

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Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.