Federal Wine & Spirits 
September 9, 2009  
 
Malts We Loved
Classic Islay 21 Y.O. 46% Un-chill-filtered

A few years ago people started to talk to me about a new release from an un-named Islay distillery. It was not available in Massachusetts,. The buzz was so strong that when I went to a Whiskyfest in Chicago I had to pick up a bottle. It was as good as people said. The nose was soft, seductive and intriguing. The palate was velvety and brought me straight to Islay, glorious harmony with the malted barley, sea air, a touch of iodine. It had only just begun. Then to a crofter’s cottage in front the peat fire,when the peat starts slow and gets bigger and bigger but stays tame and alluring, never overbearing, with the smoke coming like soft mist to dovetail with the peat at the back of the palate.The finish: soft, warming, lingering. It was simply brilliant. I still remember the first time I tasted it !!
At the beginning of October we are getting the last of the stock of what I think is a classic bottling of pure Islay. The word is that it is a rare bottling of Lagavulin, rare because the distillery is so small and demand so great that almost none gets out to independent bottlers.
My palate says that too, from a classic bourbon cask. I tried the last of my precious bottle against a Lagavulin 21 Y.O. Cask Strength distillery bottling and I preferred the Classic Islay. I feel 100% certain what this is. Even if I am wrong, it is an amazing whisky not to be missed, one of the year’s best Islays in both taste and value. This will be a one-time, the only opportunity to get it. You will never have this chance again.

Pre Arrival price $140.00 – Reg Price $189.99
Arrival late September or early October.

Please pass this on to any friends who are scotch enthusiasts.

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits

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Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: 617-367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/