Missed Mist – Islay Mist

By / Wine + Drinks / November 25th, 2009 / 2

It’s been about eight thirsty years since fans of smoky island scotch were able to procure a wee dram or two of MacDuff International’s Islay Mist on these shores, or at least the shores of Ontario. The good news is that the Mist has again rolled in and this blended scotch with a peaty core of Islay (pronounced eye-luh) malt is back in stock in Ontario and Alberta – with the rest of the country hopefully soon to come.

The whisky is a unique blend of the famous (and famously assertive) Laphroaig single malt together blended with a select number Highland malts and grain whisky to add subtlety and mellowness to the Laphroaig.  Even so, Islay Mist is probably the peatiest blended scotch in the world. Overall it contains a higher percentage of malt whisky than standard blends, which makes its price (under $30.00) very Scots-friendly.

Originally created for a celebration to mark the 21st birthday of the son (now Lord Margadale) of the Laird of Islay House in 1922. It was felt that single malt Laphroaig might be too heavy for everyone’s taste, so that malt was blended with a range of high quality highland malts, including Glenlivet, and a grain whisky.

Distinctly Islay on the nose with telltale peat smoke, iodine and sea spray aromas and flavours, it is medium-bodied with a slightly oily texture. Smooth with a hint of cereal grain weaved in to balance the smokiness, it nevertheless sports a long, distinctly island finish.

A nice way for those used to blended scotch or lighter highland malts to ease themselves into the wonderfully pungent world of the whiskies of the Isle of Islay.

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