Mac-Talla Feis Ile 2023 Pedro Ximenez, Pedro Ximenez Cask, 2023, 54.6%

sunbeam compass14 Sept

Stewed berries and dark summer fruits give this a generous fruit character, while maritime smoke and a hint of salt keep it from becoming simply sweet. The palate brings raisins and plums alongside barbecue smoke, cinnamon and chocolate-covered honeycomb; that sweet, fruity thread against savoury smoke is the appealing contrast here. It sounds fuller and more assertive than a gentle fruit-led malt, with a long, drying finish that adds toasted walnuts and white pepper.

Barbecue smoke alongside sweet plums and raisins gives this a clear sweet-and-smoky character. The burnt toffee and dark fruit notes make it sound especially appealing, while the white pepper adds a sharper edge.

canal_socks7 Feb

The smoke is clearly part of this one, but the palate is described as medium in peat rather than all smoke. Raisins and cinnamon alongside barbecue smoke sound like a good balance, and the sweet, drying finish gives it another side.