The Liberator Port 'n' Peat – Storehouse Special Batch 18
Nose
The first encounter with this whisky is like a walk through an orchard at dawn. Juicy peaches sway in the wind, apricots gleam golden in the first sunshine. The stone fruits tell of summer evenings and warm dreams, while gooseberries add a tart note of reality.
Then it comes - the vanilla like a gentle kiss, accompanied by blackcurrants that reveal their dark secrets. Ripe peaches bathe in glucose, as if someone had poured liquid sweetness over the orchard. It is light and yet intense, like a summer song that you can't get out of your head.
Taste
The first sip is like a fall from heaven to earth. The sweet fruitiness of the nose transforms into something completely different: the whisky becomes spicy and dry, as if the earth itself has taken the floor.
The flavour is earthy, almost bog-like - here you can sense the "peat" in the name, the peat that returns like an old friend from times gone by.
Slightly perfumed and floral, it resonates as malt and oak spice sing a duet. A hint of honey tries to rescue the sweetness, but unripe bananas and a dry, crisp texture keep the upper hand. It's a battle between what was and what is.
Finish
The finish is very earthy, bitter like the truth you don't want to hear. The oak spice dominates with a medium-long presence, and a lone apple tries to sing a last song of fruitiness. It remains bitter, this farewell - like a poem that doesn't find the ending you wanted.
Thoughts
The Liberator Port 'n' Peat - Storehouse Special Batch 18 is a whisky with two souls: a fruity, sweet soul and an earthy, bitter soul. They fight with each other instead of dancing, and yet something fascinating emerges from this battle.
It is a whisky for poets and philosophers, for those who appreciate life in all its contradictions. It is not perfect - no, it is like an unfinished poem that touches precisely because of its imperfection.
Rating: 75/100 - Very Good (Marcel: 74 | Sascha: 75)
Value for Money: 3/5 - Ok
FAQ: The Most Common Questions
❓ Why does the whisky taste so different from the way it smells?
👉 The combination of port finish and peat influence creates a complex layering: the fruity port flavours dominate the nose, while the earthy peat character only emerges on the palate.
❓ Is this whisky suitable for peat lovers or port finish fans?
👉 To be honest - only to a limited extent for both. The peat is not as dominant as in an Islay, and the port finish is not as sweet as in classic port bottlings. It is more for those who like to experiment and appreciate the unexpected. A compromise between the two worlds that will not satisfy everyone.
❓ Why is there no age statement for this whisky?
👉 This is not unusual for independent bottlers such as Wayward Irish Spirits. Different vintages are often blended to achieve a certain flavour profile. The focus is on character, not age. With this whisky, the complexity seems to come from the combination of casks rather than long ageing.