Hunter Laing & Co. Scarabus 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Apart from referencing a mystical area on Islay, 'Scarabus' was an old distillery that was closed over two centuries ago, but its exact location on the island remains unknown. Hunter Laing's series of Islay whiskies of the same name continues - this time with an age statement drawn from a mix of refill ex-bourbon barrels and virgin oak casks. It comes with the same handsome, neo-Victorian presentation, and it's intended as a classic peated island style: softly smoky on the nose with hints of leather and buttery, cereal notes with lots of sweet peat smoke on the palate. Non chill fitlered for maximum flavour. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Building brands. This is an Islay single malt, let's see if it's just Caol Ila under another name. What? Why would the label be overdone? Of course it isn't! But it's the juice that counts anyway… Oh and I seem to remember Scarabus is also the lovely place where our very dear friend Martine Nouet, queen of all stills, has got her house on Islay. But shh… (hugs, Martine) Colour: white wine. Nose: precise, millimetric, on olive brine, oysters, lime juice, and sea breeze. No more, no less. Mouth: high-definition smoke, seawater, green olives, and lemon. An unexpected touch of thyme honey, which will cure your throat as sure as 1+1=2. Finish: long, wonderfully briny, salty, you'd almost believe you could quaff this with razorfish stewed in garlic and butter sauce, Barcelona-style. Crikey, I'm hungry again. Comments: let's be serious, the name Scarabus obviously suggests the Rhinns of Islay, it just cannot stem from the other side, can it? So either Port Charlotte, or Kilchoman. Not too sure… Let's move on… Great tight juice in any case.
88 points - whiskyfun.com