Firkin Islay Bottle Story
This is the story of two islands, Islay & Sicily, and how they come together to produce an award-winning Gold Medal whisky in the Whiskies of the World 2020 peated whiskies.
The island of Islay lies off the west coast of Scotland and is the home of big, smoky peaty whiskies. The Caol Isla distillery (pronounced Cull-Eela) on the north east tip of the island with majestic sea views is one of the finest Islay distilleries. Fuse the peaty smokiness of this classic Islay Caol Isla 2010 with the Muscat grape sweetness of Marsala from Sicily and mature in a hand-built custom cask. These use a combination of American first-fill Bourbon staves & new French Limousin oak staves with a custom char.
Why choose Marsala as the soulmate fortified wine to season the custom-made Firkin casks for Firkin Islay?
Marsala was chosen as it shares some of the depth of Caol Isla. It is a complex wine with notes of stewed apricot, vanilla, tamarind and soft brown sugar. This profile arises from a maturation system, similar to the solera from Spain. It’s a lengthy process which intensifies the wine as it slowly ages and develops its unique sweetish but spicy flavour.
This Double Oak cask in combination with the Marsala creates a special flavour profile - the original peat ‘full on character’ is mellowed and softened over time resulting in a new take on a classic Islay whisky.
Salty peat & smoke with a touch of sweetness, simply Bellissimo. Another Firkin Original.
Tasting Note
Kapow! Smoke! Call the Fire Brigade! A waft of peat & smoke.
You only need to dig a bit for the malt and creamy oak which holds it together. This has everything! Big burning embers, smoky bonfire and a tad of mellowed sweetish oak with peppery lively spirit.
So chewy and smoky, another Firkin original Islay.