Finlaggan Old Reserve

A mysteriously peaty Islay beauty.

The Vintage Malt Company is based in Glasgow, Scotland. They were founded in 1992 by Brian Crook and have the unique talent of finding good deals on hidden casks and extra production lots. They find orphan casks — even a single barrel — and cut a deal to bottle it up as a special release. Sometimes under one of their brands, sometimes wrapped in mystery completely. They even have a way for individuals just happen to have a cask of the good stuff to sell it on the QT. The point is that they were voted the best independent bottler a few years ago for good reason.

Finlaggan is one of their house brands of Single Malt Islay Whisky and it is available in three strengths. It is a core offering, so Finlaggen has cut a long-term deal to gain access to a consistent flow of this superior Single Malt. Which distillery is the source? They won’t say.

Finlaggan Old Reserve is ridiculously affordable given the intensity of Islay flavors you get. What begins very peaty and smoky on the nose with hints of peanut, continues with fantastic notes of sweet cereals and barley malt on the (still a tad peaty, of course) palate. Bottled at 80 proof, you’ll probably find this photo next to the definition of the phrase “more bang for your buck” in the dictionary.