The Last Call

     There are certain bottles that hook you early in your whiskey journey, and for me, Smokehead was one of them. The edgy branding, the skull on the label, and the promise of unapologetic peat drew me in years ago when I was chasing the smokiest Scotch I could find. What I discovered was a brand that consistently delivered bold Islay character at a fair price.      The big mystery, of course, is the distillery source. Like many independent Islay bottlings, the brand keeps that detail under wraps. That secrecy adds a bit of intrigue, even if transparency would be welcome. There is no confirmed information on chill filtration or added coloring, and the brand tends to lean into style and flavor over technical breakdowns.      Fifteen years in oak is significant for heavily peated whisky. With extended aging, peat can often mellow, soften, or even fade into the background. The question going in was simple: would this still carry that signature ...

     Kirkland’s Lowland single malt scotch whiskey immediately caught my attention, not just because it’s a bit of a rare find here in Indiana, but also due to Kirkland’s reputation for solid, well-priced bottlings, often available at Costco. While I’m a big fan of Kirkland’s Highland and Islay releases, this Lowland offering had me curious but cautious, wondering how it would stack up.      Now, this whiskey’s story is pretty classic. It spent most of its time in ex-bourbon barrels like most scotches, but then got finished in ex-sherry casks, something I always appreciate because it usually adds a nice layer of sweetness and complexity. It’s bottled by Alexander Murray & Company, who do a lot of these Kirkland releases, and honestly, they tend to nail it more often than not. I didn’t see a distillery name, which isn’t unusual, but the cask choices and the 46% proof tell me they were aiming for something that hits that sweet spot, rich enough to enjoy n...