Avian Gull, 8 years old

Avian Gull, 8 years old

The third release from Dramfool is a bourbon cask matured Single Islay Malt.

Avian Gull was distilled in June 2008 and was bottled in February 2017 at 8 years old. The whisky was bottled un-chill filtered and at cask strength of 59.2%, and 202 bottles have been released.

Tasting Notes:

Nose neat: We’re slightly lost in the woods on south Islay – like Avian Gull, we’re a bit mixed up, but we might be near a hollow by a mill. With every spongy step, the mossy forest floor exhales its peaty, woody breath while the smoke and crackle of a distant bonfire meets the bark and resin of the trees around us. The breeze also brings in the scent of brine and tarred ropes of a harbour while in a country garden somewhere near, lavender is growing. Open the lunchbox and a cloud of icing sugar dusting on our cakes puffs up, but that old tube of Germolene in the first aid kit has been leaking. What a muddle.

Taste neat: We’ve made it to the coast. The spritz of sea spray and seaweed is in the air. We retreat indoors. Warming ourselves at the varnished pine table a little too close to the peaty fire, the air is hot and dry. Some afternoon tea might be in order – did someone say cream cakes?

Nose Diluted: A wee walk on the wild side, in more ways than one. Passing by green saplings sprouting amid the older, woody trees on a forest stroll – it’s all very innocent. But while the water has mostly washed away the smoke, there’s also the unmistakeable note of marijuana buds and cannabis resin. Peat and brine still linger, but you could be in Scandinavia now, because there’s the heat and pine of a sauna, not to mention a touch of iodine, coal-tar soap, wax and cake icing. Everything about Avian Gull is a jumble, it seems…

Taste diluted: This is a warming hug in a glass. Sure, there’s the brine and seaweed of the ocean, but that’s rounded off by a herbal peatiness and a sweet creaminess. There’s a rich, velvety maltiness seldom found outside a mug of Horlicks…