HSE Kilchoman Single Cask Finish 2013

HSE, or Habitation Saint Etienne, is a Martinique house known for its cask finishes and vintages, and this 2013 takes its aged agricole into unusual territory with a finish in casks from the Islay distillery Kilchoman. Distilled from fresh pressed cane juice on a column still and tropically aged before the finish, it is a deliberate bridge between agricole and peated whisky, bottled at 44%.

The whisky cask dominates the aroma with smoke, peat and ash, the grassy cane character peeking through underneath alongside light caramel and fruit. The palate stays smoky and woody with a clear whisky influence, and the finish carries the peat through to the end. At a moderate strength it is approachable yet distinctly characterful, a fun crossover for Islay malt fans curious about rum, with just enough cane to keep it on the right side of the line.