Islay Mist 17

Thanks to @scotchguy.to for sharing a dram of this with me.

There’s always a question of what to drink on a regular basis. Now I’m not saying drink excessively. If you need a whisky reviewer to tell you that, then… holy damn, get some help. Call someone you love. Even if you think they won’t answer.

But if you’re drinking a healthy amount, and want something to regularly have, then you’re iffy on reviews. A lot of people only review either really popular things to get momentary attention on social media or rare as fuck whiskies that you’d be silly not to write something down for.

Where does Islay Mist 17 lay? Well, this is a blend of 17-year-old whiskies, with more Islay in it and then some mainland whiskies to balance it out. However, if you’re like me, that 17 years may stop you in your tracks. That’s a bit older to buy for a daily drink.

But age isn’t the final determinant, or at least that’s what HR tells us in hiring. So how does this taste? Let’s see, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Blend

Abv: 40%

Colour: 7.5YR 4/8

Nose: Cinnamon, raspberry, earth, cereal

Hmm… Okay. So you’d initially think something with the name “Islay” on the front would immediately hit you with smoke. However this is, in fact, a blend, and we knew that, so stop judging books by their covers.

Anyway, there’s some sharp acidity, some sweetness, some earth. Nice use of the Islay for the spice, and a good balance.

Taste: Cinnamon bread, mineral, nectarine, smoke, yams

The cereal and cinnamon mixture amp up. Some mineral, some earth, more smoke.

If you’re used to single malts from Islay, you’ll see some aspects but tempered with earth. Very easy drinking. You may pull out a bit more on several repeated tries, but I’m mostly just sitting back after a few sips.

Finish: Cinnamon hearts, caramel, cereal, smoke, brine

More cinnamon. If you don’t like cinnamon, this isn’t going to be your jam. Or jelly, or really any bread spread.

Closer to a simpler finish. Beyond the cinnamon, you have very generic caramel, some brine to back it up, and how smoke/cereal.

Conclusion: Nice sipper. Hits cinnamon continuously, but not enough to bother you. It’s balanced more than other Islays, it is fine on a summer versus winter day, and it does some nice things.

Is it going to blow your mind? Be that older dram on the shelf to brag about? No way. It’s slightly more pricey, and it’ll be an upgrade beyond your current blended daily sipper (One with a walking man who wears black).

76/100

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