The Gladstone Axe Black Axe is a blended malt Scotch whisky made from 100% malted barley and aged in oak barrels. It combines whiskies from 14 Highland and Islay distilleries, with a higher proportion of Islay malt.
The smoke could add an element of intrigue in cocktails (such as those featured on their website) that traditionally use a non-peated whiskey like bourbon.
Citrus, honey, and toasted pastry flavors, with flashes of dried apricot, tropical fruits, and grapefruit flesh, which yield before a delicious final phase of chocolate, malt, and cocoa usher in the dry finish.
The finish folds in more chocolate and just a light touch of pepper, again a bit sharp on the fade-out. It’s slightly more intriguing than the American Oak expression, though that’s largely driven by its bolder and richer body instead of much in the way of flavor elements.
