Chattanooga Whiskey Islay Scotch Cask Finished Bourbon Whiskey

Chattanooga Whiskey Islay Scotch Cask Finished Bourbon Whiskey is a limited straight bourbon from the Riverfront Distillery in Chattanooga, the second release in the Barrel Finishing Series, bottled at 95 proof. Head distiller Grant McCracken built the peated mash bill in 2015 as an homage to Islay and sent it back out in this finish. Two high-malt recipes share the bottle: B004, with peat-smoked barley, naked oat malt, and honey malt, and Barrel 91, with caramel malt and honey malt. It aged more than 4 years, including more than 3 months in 250-liter hogsheads from three distilleries near Kildalton, where the malt is dried over island peat. The smoke is in the grain and in the cask, so it tastes baked into the bourbon. Non-chill filtered, in batches of 5 to 7 barrels.

Earthy smoke and peat come with toasted oats, malt, and toffee, lifted by heather and honeydew. Oak char sits under the sweetness. The smoke stays integrated, and the finish is medium, lightly spiced, rich and delicate at the same time.