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Black Bottle Island Smoke

woody peaty
3.1
(3)€27Scotland, Blended

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Island Smoke is the second expression in Black Bottle's Alchemy Series, and it signals real ambition. Over twenty peated island malts were assembled for this blend, anchored by a rare 1984 blended malt at its heart. The result smells like a beach bonfire with a coastal breeze carrying it inland. Medicinal depth sits under the smoke, while vanilla and woody warmth soften the edges. Seaweed salt threads through the whole thing, keeping every sip grounded by the shoreline. Drink it neat and give it space to breathe.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Black Bottle

Black Bottle began in 1879, when three brothers named Graham left Aberdeen's tea trade to blend whisky in Scotland. They called it Black Bottle after the dark glass it was originally bottled in, imported all the way from Germany. When the First World War disrupted that supply in 1914, the brand switched to green glass for decades. In 1995 a new owner rebuilt the blend around malt from every working distillery on Islay, marketed under the line 'Heart of Islay.' Bunnahabhain, Islay's gentlest malt, still forms its backbone today. Burn Stewart Distillers, now part of Distell, brought back the black bottle in 2013, styled on a 1906 Graham family design. The recipe was eased back toward its smoky Aberdeenshire character at the same time.

3.8Average rating

9Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Black Bottle Island Smoke

Black Bottle Island Smoke is a blended Scotch whisky from Scotland, bottled at 46.3% ABV and non-chill filtered. Black Bottle released this as Batch 2 of the Alchemy Series in 2021. Over twenty peated island single malts and unpeated grain whisky were assembled for this blend. A 1984 blended malt serves as the backbone. That age and variety give the whisky genuine depth and a character you would not expect at this price. Lift the glass and bold, peaty smoke arrives first. It is dry and coastal, like a beach bonfire caught on a sea breeze. Medicinal notes follow close behind, carrying a classic island iodine character. Underneath that, sweetness waits. Vanilla softens the smoke and a touch of marzipan lends a creamy depth that surprises. Fresh fruit hovers at the edges, adding a light contrast to the heavier, woodier tones. The palate delivers the blend's full character. Seaweed salt and woody oak texture arrive alongside sweet cereal and a crack of black pepper spice. The smoke stays present throughout but never crowds. It is well-balanced, with each element taking its turn. The finish is long and warming, with oak spice and dry sea air lingering on the tongue. Black Bottle is one of Scotland's historic blending brands, with island peat running through its character for generations. The Alchemy Series represents the label's most ambitious bottlings, each one built around a distinct idea. The brand draws from distilleries across the Scottish islands for its malt components. Black Bottle Island Smoke is built to be drunk neat. Pour a dram, give it a moment, and let the layers reveal themselves.