Archer scored this whisky 88 points 
After a bottle of Caol Ila 12yo had just been emptied, the resulting gap in the local bar had to be filled. The choice fell on this Distillers Edition, which has a lot of the 12yo, but is also very independent with its fruit and berry notes. Without much fuss: a really nice classic that I'm already looking forward to having in my glass again and again in the near future.
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Cold campfire smoke, a sunlit corrugated iron roof, nori sheets, salty sea spray, blackberry jam - what a tasty start. In contrast to the 12yo original bottling, it is much more fruity on the nose and also more accessible (“more accessible” in the sense of: also suitable for non-Islay lovers), the Moscatel barrels seem to have the ashy and dryness that the 12yo has in the nose , to cover. Rum-grape-nut flavored chocolate, marzipan, a little ginger bread.
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But then on the tongue: the first contact immediately gives the tongue an Islay feeling, brings that nice, really dry peat smoke note, which brings with it a hint of pear sauce. A compote of green apples enriched with crushed blackberries and red grapes. Marzipan, hazelnuts, grated almonds - and there is always a sweet fruitiness in the background. A pleasant note of pepper builds up over time, accompanied by marjoram and chervil.
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Medium length and only slightly dry finish. Berry sweetness, some marzipan and - of course - dry and ashy peat smoke.
