Glenglassaugh Torfa Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

2014 marked a benchmark with "Torfa" - the first peated whisky from this revived distillery, fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels and peated to 20ppm. It takes its name from the Old Norse language with which the Scots dialect spoken in North East Scotland has an affinity and translates to “turf” or “peat”. One the nose, white pepper and sweet earthy phenols combine with beeswax and biscuity malt becoming more cocoa-like after extended time in the glass. The full bodied, succulent delivery offers toasted barley, hints of fruit and a superb slathering of sweet peat that melts in your mouth with near zero heat, buzzing spices ricocheting through the finish. An uncomplicated but very pure smokey Highland style. 50% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.

Other reviews... Appears happy and well suited in its new smoky incarnation. 90 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024

...Torfa is old Norse for “peat,” and this Scotch delivers on that promise with delicacy and finesse. Light golden in the glass, the nose shows a vanilla aroma tinged with peat smoke and oak accents. The palate is bright and briny up front, with a peat smoke character becoming more pronounced with each successive sip. That smoky-saline balance provokes cravings for oysters and aged cheeses. 92 points - wineenthusiast.com

Bonfire smoke, ozone, orchard fruits, malt, and black pepper are present on the nose. Slightly savory on the smooth palate, with sweet peat smoke, honey, dark chocolate, and a very mild maritime note. Ginger, apricot, and more sweet peat in the finish. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com

First tasted April 2014... Pale straw gold. Opening sniff detects hints of vanilla wafer biscuit, dried grass and white pepper; more cocoa like after exposure as mild peat infuses dark chocolate, accentuating with time in the glass. Quite sweet but remains in check with the mid palate featuring juicy vanilla malt and the finish highlighting the peat as wet-wool / lanolin. Controlled spices add length and continue into an attractive choc-peat fade. Smokey, but in an accessible Caol Ila kind of way. Nicely done. 93 points