Skeleton Key from Duncan Taylor & Co, the family-owned Scotch whisky specialist.

One of Brewdog’s Boilermaker series, with bold peat smoke to complement their Jet Black Heart stout or Zombie Cake porter.

It has been said that this is a combination that shouldn’t work, but does, and I’d have to add that of all the Boilermaker Series, this is the one I’d choose to drink solo.

Tasting notes

The 46% ABV in no way overpowers the smooth, smoky, peaty and sweet flavours.

The Nose: Dry smoke first, peaty, then a slight saltiness before a cooling freshness.
(I’ve heard it becomes sweeter with the addition of water, but I can’t attest to this.)

The Palate: Acidic salt nuts and smoke with a balancing sweetness to the peat. A subtle complexity.

The Finish: Salty and sweet. Slips down easy with no lingering aftertaste.

As a Boilermaker I found it wrestled valiantly with both the Jet Black Heart and the Zombie Cake.

As a solo it’s the sweetness and chunky mid-palate that made it my favourite of the Boilermaker Series to drink on its own.

Roadtested in the Doghouse, Glasgow, Scotland.