Creag Isle 12 Year Island Single Malt

Ok so Im at the total wine looking for some smoke. Want to try something I havent had before at a decent price. The guy that works there tells me Shieldaig Islay is Caol Ila....yeah sure.... I keep looking and see this puppy. Hey its got a 12 yr age statement, is like 35 bucks and sits with the other Islay malts. Talk myself into it and purchase. Crack it that night and wtf?? where is the smoke. Aha the bottle says island malt not Islay . Nose is tootsie roll, hay, some buried malt and just a hint of peat smoke. Bit of applewood and some salt as well. Palate is nougat sweetness with malty note and brine. Peat comes in but mainly vegetative though ashy smoke is present. Finish is oaky charred malt, salty generic sweetness (like a blend) and peat that goes mildly bitter. All this is rather fleeting without any real depth or power. Despite that I dont hate it, there is something enjoyable about the generic plainness of it like a vanilla ice cream. Not a repurchase though as there are many in this price range far better. Sorry for the long review on an average at best scotch......73/100....Tastes like a blend not a single malt and I cant stop thinking I could have the far superior Compass Box Glasgow around this price

An elegant, Single Malt Scotch Whisky by Quality Spirits International Ltd. aged for 12 years in American oak barrels & bottled at 42.2% ABV. It an aromatic birth with notes of grain, fruit, wood & spices; while a rich & fruity life adds notes of orange, red berries, grass & honey; that led to a balanced death of medium length adding notes of oak, vanilla, chocolate & light peat smoke. September / October 2023

Nose Apple and caramel Taste Apricots first, thin and a little watered down no need to add water, slight burn, light peat, oaky. Finish For me the worst part, soured apples, dry tangy wood taste from green walnuts or the wood from pecans, very short finish, slight burn. Overall too thin with a subpar finish. It’s missing something to make it standout. However it’s a decent light citrus oaky choice.

I'm a big fan of peaty Isle Scotch. This definitely meets that at an incredible price. No one would confuse this for a more complex Laphroigh or Ardbeg but it really is good, even more stunningly good foe the price. I think the complexity it misses is some of the more expensive Isla whiskeys is that at the end they usually turn t Malty and sweet where this one doesn't.

I’m sorry to say this just doesn’t do it for me there are too many things going on here. I understand the smoke and the apricots and the apple finish but it’s just too much on its own no balance I might try mixing this with something else to soften these hard edges. Now I just got to figure out what else to try mixing it with.

Tastes much younger 12 years Nose, honey Taste: honey, a touch of sourness Solid whiskey but I don't get much peat. If you like peat, then give it a pass. If you like Speyside whiskey, then thismight a change of pace. I've enjoyed it so far but I can buy Ardbeg 10 for the same price and I love Ardbeg