Kilkerran Heavily Peated Single Malt 700ml

That ex-bourbon and sherry cask combination really works here – the brown sugar sweetness balances the peat smoke nicely without hiding it. I opened it last weekend and the buttery popcorn note on the palate was a pleasant surprise.

The peat is savory and upfront, but the ex-sherry cask rounds it out with a sweet, fruity layer that makes each sip feel balanced. I was surprised by the buttery popcorn note on the palate—it’s subtle but gives it a comforting, almost breakfast-like warmth.

The sherry cask influence really balances out the heavy peat here, giving it a nice fruity sweetness that I wasn't expecting. That buttery popcorn note on the palate is spot-on, makes it dangerously easy to sip.