Distillery Dive: Orkney Adventure

Distillery Dive #4: Orkney Adventure offers wild and wonderful aromas and flavours borne of sea and smoke! Situated on the northernmost whisky-producing island in Scotland, Distillery #4 is known for using locally cut peat mixed with heather to produce a robust and earthy spirit with a thin veil of smoke. There is a gentler style of smokiness produced here that has become a gateway for many whisky lovers who are intrigued by peat smoke but not yet ready to tackle the bold and aggressive style of whisky produced by distillers further south. There is also the ability to produce rather intensely smokey malts for those peat lovers who crave a stronger appeal. The coastal influence in each cask adds yet another layer of complexity to the malts produced here. Many connoisseurs consider the malts of Distillery #4 to be the most well-rounded in the world!

Our featured single malts were all distilled on January 28^th, 2008. After 9 years of aging in ex-bourbon hogsheads, they were vatted (married together) and ‘re-casked’ for 4 years of additional maturation in separate first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. The resultant whiskies will transport your senses across the Atlantic! Cask No. 4.298 I see seashore dons the “Oily & Coastal” flavour profile, combining notes of dried seaweed and salty sea air with jasmine tea, smoked oysters and lemon meringue pie. Another note that screams ‘Distillery #4!’ is heather and honey, a classic flavour to pick up on. Our next two malts are both classified as “Peated” in our flavour profiling yet offer an abundance of autonomy and differences. Cask No. 4.300 A horned beast is the most robust of the trio with sharp lemon, herbs and spicy heat on the nose. Maritime aromas and flavours soften the intense peat of the palate with anise, smoked tea and beach bonfire on the finish. Cask No. 4.301 Sooty clouds lightens up with smoked seafood and citrusy desserts. Smoked meats and gingery spice lead us to an herb garden near a rock pool. Certainly a sweeter version of peat with plenty of smoky complexity to keep us going back for more!

If ordered separately: Cask No. 4.298= $140; Cask No. 4.300= $140; Cask No. 4.301= $140.

Cask No. 4.298 - I see seashore
Date distilled: January 2008
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 13 years
Alcohol: 60.2%
Region: Highland Island

Cask No. 4.300 - A horned beast
Date distilled: January 2008
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 13 years
Alcohol: 61.3%
Region: Highland Island

Cask No. 4.301 - Sooty clouds
Date distilled: January 2008
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 13 years
Alcohol: 61.0%
Region: Highland Island