M & H Whisky In Bloom Milk & Honey Lightly Peated (750ml)

Israel's first whiskey distillery is defining the next frontier of craft spirits. With its warm and incredibly sunny climate, Tel Aviv's whiskeys mature at a faster rate. Their Whisky in Bloom line was created specifically for the US, and the Lightly Peated bottling is, interestingly, not smoked at all - rather, it is aged in a combination of Bourbon, red wine STR (shaved, toasted, and re-charred), and Islay casks, the latter of which imparts a subtly peatey background. That peat note opens behind cereal grain and vanilla notes, with a cocoa and peppercorn tone coming through. The palate is well-textured, showing again that subtle peat smoke accompanying flavors of sweet oak, orange rind, and a hint of dark chocolate-covered berries. Sip neat or on rocks for an introduction to whiskey's newest home, or try it as a softer substitute for Scotch in a Penicillin or Rob Roy.