Margadale is a nickname for peated Bunnahabhain. Independently bottled Moine if you like. This Margadale Ma1 is the first of its kind in the Elements of Islay series and was aged in first-fill bourbon casks.
Margadale Ma1 (54,2%, Elements of Islay 2016, 50 cl)
Nose: briny, almost pickled jalapeño at first. A zesty lemon and salt combo. Then walnuts and sweet grasses. Damp wool. Plenty of charcoal and ashes, in a nicely aromatic way. Peppery hints and some vanilla in the back.
Mouth: powerful and creamy, with a slight pear and almond sweetness, grassy notes and lots of peat smoke. Lemons and burnt heather. Hints of anise and brine. Some faint yeasty notes. Same hints of walnuts, as well as some wet chalk and soft touches of gentian.
Finish: long, leathery and grassy. Lots of ashes.
I tried this twice. The first time I didn’t really like it (low complexity, a little on the rough side) but I had to revise my notes the second time. Still not the most refined of the new Elements of Islay, but nonetheless one of the better heavily peated Bunnas I’ve had. Around € 60 from TWE.
Score: 82/100