The Smokehead range of whiskies is a product of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd., a family-owned business in the spirits industry. Smokehead was first introduced by the company in 2006. It’s a slightly unusual bottling in that the exact distillery the whisky is sourced from is undisclosed. This is only slightly unusual, because there are actually a few of these mystery single malts doing the rounds (but more on that below).
Ian Macleod sources the whisky, then handles all the bottling, branding, marketing, and distribution under the Smokehead label. The first-ever Smokehead was a NAS (no age statement) whisky released in 2006. Since then, there have been a number of releases in the range, including a cask strength (or “High Voltage”) version, as well as several other expressions with different types of cask maturations or cask finishes (and even a few expressions bearing age statements that I’ve never personally managed to lay my hands on).
Smokehead Terminado was first released in 2022. It’s no longer the most recent Smokehead release, as they have also released some additional rum-influenced variants. Still, Terminado is notable for its distinctive finishing. The name means “finished” in Spanish, and in this case, the whisky has been finished in ex-tequila casks. Exactly what type of tequila casks are used is not stated on the bottle. This is a relatively new type of finish for Scotch whisky, as the law was only recently changed to allow whisky producers to use tequila casks in the maturation process. The tequila influence is said to impart subtle agave notes – which can include some tropical fruit, citrus, herbal, or peppery notes.
Smokehead Terminado itself is a NAS, limited-edition, single malt from Islay, and is bottled at 43% ABV. It’s not clear exactly what is meant by “limited edition” here. There are still plenty of bottles on the market three years later, but they’ll likely become harder to find over time. At the moment I can find a bottle for around $56, which is roughly the same price as a bottle of Compass Box Orchard House. Although it’s not stated on the bottle (or on Smokehead’s official website), plenty of external sources state that this particular bottle of Smokehead was also initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before the tequila cask finish.
I must admit that I quite enjoy the fact that we don’t know exactly which distillery this whisky comes from (and Ian Macleod has done a good job of keeping the secret). I’ve heard from quite a few people who are confident that Smokehead is sourced from either Ardbeg, Lagavulin, or Laphroaig. But I’ve also heard it suggested that the whisky that makes up any particular Smokehead release could vary from distillery to distillery. Perhaps the original Smokehead released in 2006 hailed from Laphroaig, say, while Terminado is sourced from somewhere different, like Caol Ila?
That element of mystery can add a layer of fun and speculation to the tasting experience, as people try to deduce the distillery of origin based on distinctive distillery characteristics. I recall tasting Aerolite Lyndsay a few years ago (another single malt from Islay of undisclosed origin) and being convinced it came from Caol Ila. The residual aroma in my empty glass had the same broad notes I detected in an empty glass of Caol Ila 12 (where these residual notes in the glass weren’t obvious when nosing either of those actual whiskies). That there are only a handful of distilleries on Islay makes this guessing game a bit easier to play with friends – although one can never know for sure whether or not one is right!
There are also quite a few mystery single malts out there that aren’t from Islay (Berry Bros & Rudd have bottled a mystery Speyside, for example). One particularly mysterious bottle I came across a while back is a 12-year-old single malt bottled by the Private Barrel Co. It’s a Scottish whisky that appears to have been bottled especially for a local supermarket. That’s the only place I’ve ever seen it, so it’s unlikely to be found outside of South Africa. Without even a whisky-producing region on the label, however, the guessing game you can play becomes much harder (if not impossible).
For whatever reason, Islay seems particularly prone to spawning these mystery malts. Part of the marketing that bolsters these sorts of releases aims to refocus consumers on appreciating what’s in their glass – the whisky itself – rather than getting caught up with the reputation or prestige of any individual distillery, or the general mystique surrounding Islay. In just this vein, Smokehead’s website has a statement which reads: “It’s what’s inside that counts […] So, no fancy labels or pretentiousness, telling you to revere and respect the traditions of the island’s legendary blah blah blah.” There’s certainly some appeal to this idea – I do appreciate the thought that we ought not be overly swayed by a distillery name (although I also usually appreciate having more information at my disposal rather than less).
Smokehead Terminado – Review
Colour: Tawny (for some reason I didn’t expect such a rich colour).
On the nose: Peat smoke upfront that feels a little medicinal and ashy. A white-sugary sweetness. Some shortbread and ripe bananas. A little citrus. Theres a little bit of a tang lurking in the very background that makes me think of salt and vinegar chips. Some leathery notes alongside resin.
In the mouth: Initial heavy woodsmoke, with some grapefruit. A little banana again? The texture feels medium to thin. There are some notes reminiscent of pavlova. More white-sugary sweetness. A little bitter cocoa, and prickly white pepper. Lingering notes of smoke, honey, and iodine.
Conclusion:
I probably should have led with this disclaimer: I’m not a tequila connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination (I have sampled only a very small range of tequila in my time). I’m guessing that the banana and sugary notes can be attributed to the tequila finish, although it’s hard to say for sure since those are notes that, technically, could just as easily be found in whisky without such a finish. Given that this whisky is heavily peated, it’s worth keeping in mind that any influence from the cask finish could be somewhat overshadowed.
It’s perhaps ever so slightly on the pricey side of things for me – it’s a little more expensive than a bottle of Aerolite Lyndsay (available for around $51), which again is another one of those mystery single malts from Islay – except Aerolite Lyndsay bears a 10-year age statement, while Smokehead Terminado is a NAS whisky. Still an enjoyable dram, especially if you’re a fan of smoke, with quite a bit going on if you can get past the wall of peat.
I personally preferred the nose to the palate on this particular whisky, as I quite liked the vague hints of salt and vinegar. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the sweet sugary notes I detected, which were just a little too simple (if that makes sense) as well as a little too dominant on the palate.
