A powerfully peated, cask strength Islay Single Malt with attitude.

Ian Macleod Distillers is the biggest Scotch company that you’l probably never heard of. Founded in 1933, they produce more than fifteen million bottles of Spirits every year, making them the 10th largest producer in Scotland. They source and produce across two dozen or so brands and also do private-label production for other producers, restaurant chains, and even stores across Europe. And the entire operation is still family owned and operated from the south side of Edinburgh.

Smokehead is one of Ian Mcleod’s premier brands. As the name directly implies, the Smokehead line includes three Islay Single Malts that make no pretense about being “soft” or “smooth.” They come right at you with a bug puff of smoke and no apologies. Heck… there’s even a skull on the label. Smokehead High Voltage is their signature smoky dram delivered at a cask strength of 58% ABV. They describe it as an “all-out attack on your senses.” Sure… we get it. But this is a youthful and heavily peated — but very flavorful — dram that’s true to its roots and will not come as a too big a shock to fans of Islay Whisky. But you will come back for seconds.