Smoking Ember, 40 %, $40
(A blend of malt whiskies). Big and smoky, but with a rich, balancing, malty underbelly. Tarry rope, leafy bonfire, rooty peat, burnt licorice, smoked seaweed, coal ash, and vanilla-tinged malt, all with emerging brine, subtle Spanish olive and a hint of ginger. A robust, yet well-rounded, Islay-style whisky with a pleasing oily texture. I do wish it had a higher strength for a little more attitude, though.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 83
Never had anything from Lombard. Are they an independent bottler who is widely available here in the States? Sounds good & seems to have everything I like in a big, rich, smoky whisky (especially for only around $40). Yet something else to search out and try.
Lombard is an independent bottler, which is sometimes available in the United states. I have a couple from them– Their Pebble Beach 12 yo Speyside Single Malt (no distillery named) and their Jewels of Scotland 22 yo Brora. They’re both very good bottlings imho, and notably excellent values. Whatever else Smoking Ember is I’ll bet your getting something fair for your dollar.
There is also a 12 year old Teanich from Lombard floating around. I have seen it a couple of times in the NYC area.
Everybody is jumping on the smoke and peat bandwagon.
It’s not as quick as in electronics, because of the nature of the beast, but you can see that smoke and peat is the flavor of the 21st century or a least the first couple of decades.
And if it’s done good, then this is the best decade to be alive and kick..err..tasting
Yeah, there are a lot of Indie smoky whiskies right now. Some good, some not so good.
Is this more Caol Ila like in mouthfeel and taste?
is there any neural grain in the blend, or is it a “vatted malt”, what are the sources of the malt?
Brian, it’s a blend of malts (no grain whisky). They don’t reveal the source. Alex, I have to think about that one.
I thought the term ‘Pure Malt’ was now banned…
I think this was bottled before the ban.
“Blended Malt” is a desperate term!
“Vatted Malt” is (and always was) perfectedly respectable. (@ 46% ABV NCF!)
We’ll get used to it. “It’s only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away…”
(It’s a weird day that finds me quoting the Bee Gees….)
This is NAS, I guess. Does the stuff taste a touch too young?
Yes Red, no age statement. But it didn’t taste a touch too young, like many others do. I just wish it were bottled at a higher ABV.