Lost Spirits Co. Abomination Crying of the Puma Heavily Peated Malt Cask Strength Whisky (750ml)

"...wholly delicious if raw...and boasts an impact that blows the tastebud's doors' down." - Jim Murray

Controversial and difficult to classify, this is a whisky Australian Customs tried to ban. According to the importer, "it was all to do with age statements, production process and they thought that it was a whisky when it is in fact a spirit.  Then they had issues with the oak component as well. " Whiskyadvocate.com explain how this was matured using alternative aging technology. "Actual Time in Barrel: 18 months. Processing: Multiple peated malt distillates are aged in Scotland, then blended, exported, and put through Lost Spirits’ reactor with pieces of toasted oak treated with Riesling wine."

Tasting note: Peated to approximately 45-55ppm. No holds barred peat in a combination of smoked meats, char, wood smoke and chillie chocolate that pretty much overwhelms the latent malt. Remarkably relaxed at this ABV, the peat smothering the fruity base, sweetening at the finish with added honey and vanilla; the cured meat notes lingering in the aftertaste. Seamless. Make it your next bbq whisky. Non chill filtered. 54% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... From the bizarre label and even brand name to the battle on your palate this is a bewildering and non-sensical whisky...if it is whisky at all, as the term is never used. But wholly delicious if raw...and boasts an impact that blows the tastebud's doors' down. 93 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018

An aggressive punch of peat—creosote, tar, rubber, and seaweed—mingles with wood spice, butterscotch, vanilla pudding, and red apple on the nose. The palate shows charred meat, charred wood, earthy smoke, crème brûlée, and red apple flavors. The short, ashy finish satisfies with dark chocolate and black pepper. At such a high proof, it takes water well and develops in the glass. 85 points
- whiskyadvocate.com, Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2018)