Brand: Macaloney's The Peat Project - Single Cask Series - Double Distilled
Type: Canadian Island Peated Single Malt Whisky - 54PPM
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: European Moscatel Barrique
Maturation: European Moscatel Barrique
Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 100 (March 2025)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 100 (March 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 A bit expensive for such a Young Single Malt
Buying Advice: 😃 A nice way to start your Macaloney's journey
Colour:
Yellow Gold (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Please do not Nose in the middle of your glass as the Alcohol is present. I also get a new European Wood note at first. It softens up after a while however. The Peat smoke note is pleasant and certainly not overpowering. Fruit, Honey and Cereals are the main drivers. Young and Light but not unpleasant.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Honey, Dough, Granola with Nuts & Dried Fruit like Banana, Apricot, Coconut & Raisins, Bonfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Dusty Oak, Cantaloupe and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Syrup, Straw, Tangerine, Lemon, Mandarin, Pine, Cigar Box, Green Veggies and Herbs, White Wine, Smoked Meat, Tobacco, White Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg.
Palate:
Young and a little bit on the Thin side but not unpleasant. The Alcohol is there I'm afraid. It's Sweet in a nice way & the Peat and Smoke remain in a supporting role.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Breakfast Cereals with Nuts and Dried Fruit like Banana, Apple, Apricot, Raisins, Sultanas, Coconut & Mango, Bonfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Cigar Ash, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Clove and Ginger.
Colour:
Yellow Gold (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Please do not Nose in the middle of your glass as the Alcohol is present. I also get a new European Wood note at first. It softens up after a while however. The Peat smoke note is pleasant and certainly not overpowering. Fruit, Honey and Cereals are the main drivers. Young and Light but not unpleasant.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Honey, Dough, Granola with Nuts & Dried Fruit like Banana, Apricot, Coconut & Raisins, Bonfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Dusty Oak, Cantaloupe and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Syrup, Straw, Tangerine, Lemon, Mandarin, Pine, Cigar Box, Green Veggies and Herbs, White Wine, Smoked Meat, Tobacco, White Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg.
Palate:
Young and a little bit on the Thin side but not unpleasant. The Alcohol is there I'm afraid. It's Sweet in a nice way & the Peat and Smoke remain in a supporting role.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Breakfast Cereals with Nuts and Dried Fruit like Banana, Apple, Apricot, Raisins, Sultanas, Coconut & Mango, Bonfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Cigar Ash, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Clove and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Salted Toffee, Honey, Wax, Syrup, Marzipan, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Herbs, Sweet White Wine, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Licorice.
Finish:
Salted Toffee, Honey, Wax, Syrup, Marzipan, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Herbs, Sweet White Wine, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Licorice.
Middle-Long. Mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour & Salty notes. Quite Dry in the end. The Alcohol is quite noticeable at this point and shows the Youth of this Malt. I find Toasted Cereals, Homemade Salted Butterscotch, Vanilla, Bonfire Smoke & Earthy Peat, Cigar Ashes, Dusty Charred Oak, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots & Plums, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, slightly Sour White Wine, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger and Licorice. A hint of Varnish. The slightly Burnt Buttered Toast from the Nose reappears after a while.
Drinking Advice:
Drinking Experience:
Good although I would prefer a longer maturation.
I prefer it neat but you can carefully add a few drops of Water to control some of the Alcohol.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Good although I would prefer a longer maturation.
Conclusion:
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
The Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The resulting New Make Spirit won several global awards.
The Peated Series was launched in 2023. The Canadian Barley is smoked using the Washington peat and follows the process of distilleries like Laphroaig, Bowmore & Kilchoman. Canadian and Islay Peat will be used in the future.
This is one of my favorite Macaloney's so far. Yes, it's Young and yes it's a bit on the Thin side but it also combines a very pleasant Sweetness with a supporting note of Peat smoke. It would score higher if not for the constant strong presence of the Alcohol. I would really love to taste a fully matured version of this Moscatel impression. In any case this is a great place to start your Journey to Macaloney's Treasure Island.
Cheers, Jan 🥃 March 6, 2025