2017 Claxton's Warehouse No.8 Croftengea (Loch Lomond) 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Many an indie is introducing Croftengea nowadays, and no surprise - it's as reliable a peated spirit as Caol ila, even if that means it can be occasionally predictable. The bottlers describe this one as "Like smoked candy" - which is kind of appropriate; It is deliciously pure, sooty and sweet with a core of malt and poached orchard fruits. Pepper, lanolin and mesquite smoke melt together in a tongue-tingling finish. Good as ever. No wonder these routinely sell out. 65 bottles only from a PX hogshead! 57.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Very limited stocks.

Notes from the bottlers... NOSE: Heady musk. Freshly sawn oak and earthy-sweet peat. PALATE: Sweet and very fruity at first. The peat floods through and is sweet too. FINISH: Deliciously fruity and peaty finish.