SMOKEHEAD 15 YEAR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
ISLAY, SCOTLAND
WHY BUY:
Smokeheads aren't quite like Deadheads, but they're getting there — or should I say, we’re getting there. We’re fallen hard for this cult whisky maker from Islay, and this 15-year bottling for under $60 makes the greatest case yet for why they’re so special. That decade-and-a-half is longer maturation time than the brand is known for, and good lord, what a single malt their patience has produced — absolutely rife with campfire smoke, tar, brine, ash, and phenolic intensity, yet somehow, still, magnificently poised and approachable. The power hits you immediately — it’s unmistakably there — but it doesn't assault you, welcoming you into its world with confidence and assurance. If you’ve never had the pleasure of drinking a Smokehead, but crave the true and authentic, this is it, folks: your introduction to one of Scotland’s new greats. Grab it now and thank us later.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
Smokehead has been nabbing all the important hardware in recent years, most recently earning a 2024 Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the granddaddy event on the awards circuit.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
What a marvelous nose: thick and oily, phenolic and briny in all the right ways. Thyme and rosemary emerge like herbs roasting over an open flame, joined by pickled lemon and that unmistakable character (part barbecue, part seafood roast) that speaks to Islay's coastal influence. On the palate, ash and salinity lead the charge, but then things open out, surprisingly and wonderfully, into sweet citrus and subtle vanilla ice cream notes that bring great softness. And all of this is wrapped around earthy peat that doesn’t try to bully the other flavors, crowding them out. The finish stretches out like a chaise lounge, with a persistent (and lingering) peat smoke that lifts beautifully with lemon zest and coastal sea spray.
THE STORY:
Smokehead launched in 2006 as one of whisky's best-kept secrets: a heavily-peated single malt from an undisclosed Islay distillery. Speculation has run rampant ever since — could it be Lagavulin? Caol Ila? The mystery remains deliciously intact, with only this much confirmed: it's sourced and bottled by Ian Macleod Distillers, the independent, family-owned business behind Glengoyne and Tamdhu. The brand's philosophy reads like a manifesto for the unconventional: "Smokeheads share an appetite for the alternative and an insatiable curiosity that drives us to question convention and unearth a more interesting path." They describe themselves as "rebels without a pause, a heady crew of relentless disruptors who dream it, then do it.” To drink a bottle of Smokehead is to join a tribe: one of free spirits who live boldly and won't be told what to drink.
THE METHOD:
Though the source distillery remains shrouded in mystery, here’s what we know for certain: the commitment to heavily-peated single malt production that intends to convey Islay's essence. This 15-year expression benefits from extended maturation that allows the fierce peat smoke to integrate beautifully with vanilla and citrus notes. This brings a remarkable balance to such an intense whisky.
ABV:
43% (86 proof).
FUN FACT:
Smokehead describes its ideal drinker as one who is not only not put off by the image of a Ducati with a sidecar, but finds it intriguing. "We live bold, we won't be told, and the only thing we bottle is our whisky."
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the producer, to ensure pristine provenance. Order your bottles today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in IL, KS, MI, NC, NE, NY, OK, TN, VA, & WA. This offer will expire on Sunday, July 27th, 2025.