53.495 Peat Bloom

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 53.495, Peat Bloom, is a 33 year old Islay single malt from the Caol Ila distillery (SMWS distillery code 53). Distilled on 23 January 1991 and matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead, it was bottled at its natural cask strength of 44.1% ABV. It belongs to the Society's Creators Collection as part of the Peat Plants Collection, a quartet of peated releases themed on the natural world of the peatlands; the Society explains that the name evokes peat flavours unfolding like a flower blooming in Islay's peaty soil. Classed as Peated, it opens with smoked fish, coal tar and gentle ash over sweet barley and apple, turning fruity and floral with water, then herbal and citrus-sweet. As with all SMWS bottlings it is not chill-filtered.

Nose: Smoked trout and coal tar on a sea breeze with sweet barley, fine ash and smoky apple sauce with coriander seed; water brings sour apple, pineapple, sun-baked harbour stone, lavender and elderflower

Serve: Neat, then with a few drops of water; at full cask strength it opens up noticeably with a little dilution.