The Liberator Port 'n' Peat – Storehouse Special Batch 18

Nose

The first encounter with this whisky is like a walk through an orchard at dawn. Juicy peaches sway in the wind, apricots gleam golden in the first sunshine. The stone fruits tell of summer evenings and warm dreams, while gooseberries add a tart note of reality. Then it comes - the vanilla like a gentle kiss, accompanied by blackcurrants that reveal their dark secrets. Ripe peaches bathe in glucose, as if someone had poured liquid sweetness over the orchard. It is light and yet intense, like a summer song that you can't get out of your head.

Palate

The first sip is like a fall from heaven to earth. The sweet fruitiness of the nose transforms into something completely different: the whisky becomes spicy and dry, as if the earth itself has taken the floor. The flavour is earthy, almost bog-like - here you can sense the "peat" in the name, the peat that returns like an old friend from times gone by. Slightly perfumed and floral, it resonates as malt and oak spice sing a duet. A hint of honey tries to rescue the sweetness, but unripe bananas and a dry, crisp texture keep the upper hand. It's a battle between what was and what is.

Finish

The finish is very earthy, bitter like the truth you don't want to hear. The oak spice dominates with a medium-long presence, and a lone apple tries to sing a last song of fruitiness. It remains bitter, this farewell - like a poem that doesn't find the ending you wanted.