Tasting Notes: Smokehead – Original

Appropriately branded for a Halloween tipple, this is Ian Macleod Distillers’ Smokehead.

Launched in 2006, Smokehead is a single malt scotch whisky, with the identity of the source distillery itself kept as a closely guarded secret. What we do know is that hails from one of the whiskymakers on the fabled Isle of Islay, and that alone is enough for me.

In addition to the mystery distillery, we don’t know the age of the whisky either, though suspect it’s all mixed to be kept at the signature tasting profile anyway.

What we do know is that it has been a success. Originally aimed as a different way of approaching a stuffy whisky market, the use of the smoke and skulls motif targeted a different style of whisky drinker with a very obvious alignment to the hard rock and metal scene. That relationship has bloomed with Smokehead now regularly sponsoring events and having numerous releases that call on similar themes, such as 2018’s High Voltage release. The brand has also experimented with unusual cask finishes, several age statements, and even releasing a pre-mixed can of Smokehead and Cola (gasp 😉)

We also know that the original release is a proper peaty player, originally coming in at 43% ABV (as per my bottle here) but has in recent years dropped to the 40% ABV minimum, with most reporting that it is coloured (E150) for consistency and chill-filtered. Regular bottles still sit around the £35 GBP mark.

Nose

Oh it’s big old Islay peat smoke. Tarry ropes. Salty sea spray. Driftwood fires. Charcoal embers. Sweet meats like burnt ends or a beef brisket. It’s all very romantic to the dedicated Islay follower. An absolute no for anyone who doesn’t like peat.

Taste

A surprisingly soft malt arrives – not too thin or oily – with some cracked pepper spice and fizz following closely behind. The smoke and sweetness build on those barbecue meat notes from the nose.

Finish

The sweetness fades out quickly as the smoke and oak spices tussle with your tastebuds for last dibs.

Verdict

I like it. I know there are people out there who enjoy a peaty Islay whisky and seemingly get their back up about this. But I like it. And as ever, that’s the main thing when comes to enjoying a tipple.

I tell who definitely won’t like it though: anyone who doesn’t like a peated whisky. It really does lean into the name and theme. It’s not a mystery malt relying on an old Laphroaig cask for its peaty influence. The flavour is right there in the malt, front and centre.

Now… I’m aware that I’ve used the name Laphroaig there and some readers might want to jump on that to get my thoughts on where I think the whisky is from… a lot of people seem to think it’s Caol Ila – particularly with their penchant for indie bottlings. For me, all the signs that point to a South Islay / Kidalton output to me. My money would be on Ardbeg, with that meatier note behind it. It’s a 1 in 8 chance, I guess – based on the number of operational distilleries on the island when it was first released anyway – assuming they’ve always used the same distillery!?

I quite enjoy that bit of mystery to it. I’ve always seen it as a product that someone in the know within the whisky market has thought: rather than stick behind a 200 year old distillery name and mystique behind the remaining Islay peated whisky monsters, let’s whack a skull on it and playfully show this off to a new market who may well get behind it – and notably at an accessible price. The title “Islay Single Malt” hasn’t always meant affordable. Maybe I’m biased as a metalhead.

Whatever you think, you can’t deny that Ian Macleod have leant into the theme, with success, and have sourced something that should satisfy the discerning peathead (or should that be… smokehead?).

Dram Disclosure: This was a gift from family. They knew I liked whisky and regularly wear band t-shirts with skulls on. No promo or agenda. Just an honest, independent, and fair review of the whisky. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely.