Kilchoman USA Small Batch Release No. 2 (NAS)

 I'm a long-time fan of Kilchoman, the small, family-run distillery on Islay, but I have to admit that their price point (everything hovers around or above the $100 mark) tends to dissuade me from buying too many bottles. However, I saw this dusty bottle on a back shelf at Batch 13 liquors on 14th St NW here in Washington DC, and couldn't resist. 

Highland Park 12 Year (SMWS 4.264 "Dining by the Harbor")

 

When the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's ("SMWS") June 2021's outturn was released, very little was said about this interesting "oily and coastal" bottling from Highland Park. I usually associate Highland Park with a sweetish, gentle profile - a little smoke, a little honey, a little heather (a distinctly dry and floral note), a little fruit... balanced, almost delicate. Even their fantastic Cask Strength Release No. 1 was bold in a balanced, thoughtful way. 

Rock Oyster Batch No. 1 Malt Blend, Cask Strength

 

Here is a bottle I found totally by chance in a small DC liquor store (shout out to Central Liquors on E St in Chinatown! Great selection), after having reading about it here and there. After trying - and loving - the Big Peat Cask Strength offering from the same company, I had to give this a go. 

Apparently Rock Oyster had two small batch Cask Strength releases (this is the first of the two), but then was rebranded to "Rock Island," so you may see it near you under that name. Unsure if they have released any cask strength Rock Island.

Smokehead High Voltage Islay Single Malt (NAS)

 

I've been curious about Smokehead for a while, but only recently was I able to source any in the DC area. An unnamed, no age statement single malt from bottler Ian Macleod, it's from Islay, it's young, and at 58% it's very punchy. No idea about the casking, but it doesn't taste sherried to me at all. Likely ex-bourbon, maybe even 2nd fill. The core spirit overwhelms the wood influence, that's for sure. It's pretty much a mystery all the way around - although internet sources variously say it's either a young (~6 year) Ardbeg, or a young unsherried Lagavulin. Others have even guessed it's Caol Ila. My money is on Ardbeg.