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9th December 2025 |
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Review of The
Distillery at Coleburn Batch 1 of 'Local Heros'
blended malt Scotch whiskies Sherry
Bomb, Sweet Peat and Big Smoke.
If you’re
searching for a Christmas whisky gift
for the enthusiast in your life—or even
a treat for yourself—The Distillery at
Coleburn has just unveiled a trio of
blended malt Scotch whiskies that might
fit the bill. Nestled in the heart of
Speyside, the distillery recently
launched its inaugural Local Heros
series: Sherry Bomb, Sweet Peat, and Big
Smoke. This first release marks a bold
step in the revival of one of Scotland’s
historic whisky sites, celebrating not
only exceptional whisky but also the
communities, craftsmanship and
landscapes that have shaped its legacy
over generations.
The Local Heros series pays tribute to
the people, skills, distilleries and
surroundings that influence every dram.
The name also carries a personal
resonance: co-owners Mark and Dale
Winchester made a cameo appearance and
contributed to the soundtrack of the
1983 film Local Hero. This new
collection, they say, serves as a bridge
between heritage, locality and shared
storytelling.
The debut trio—Sweet Peat, Big Smoke,
and Sherry Bomb—offers an approachable
introduction to Coleburn’s new chapter.
All three whiskies are blended malts,
crafted and bottled on site at
Coleburn’s historic facility. You’ll
find my tasting notes below, and you
will find the full Local Heros range
available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
Amazon.
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Local Heros Sherry Bomb Review
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Drawn from Oloroso
and refill casks. Bottled at 46% ABV.
RRP £50
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A
rich, inviting nose brimming with ripe
sherried fruit and gentle spice. Notes
of honey layered with Demerara sweetness
mingle with hints of rum-soaked raisins
and sultanas, lifted by a touch of
orange zest. Subtle whispers of cinnamon
and almond linger in the background,
adding warmth and depth.
Taste: A
deliciously sweet Demerara opening leads
into sherry rich notes of raisins and
sultanas, complemented by a hint of
apple, milk-chocolate orange and a light
thread of vanilla. Vibrant sweet oak
spice carries the flavours forward, with
a gentle touch of cinnamon adding warmth
and balance.
Finish: A
long, satisfying finish where the
sweetness and sherried fruit gently
recede, giving way to lightly drying oak
spice, a touch of vanilla, and a late
hint of coffee.
Comment:
Local Heros Sherry Bomb delivers exactly
what its name promises: a warm, richly
sherried dram that balances sweetness,
spice, and depth with impressive
finesse. From its fruit-laden, honeyed
nose through a palate of Demerara
richness, dried fruits, it offers a
comforting, well-rounded experience. The
long finish—gently drying with oak,
vanilla and a final flicker of
coffee—cements it as an approachable yet
characterful blended malt, and a
standout introduction to Coleburn’s
revived Local Heros range that any
whisky drinker should be happy to find
in their Christmas stocking.
SMW Whisky Score
90/100
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Local Heros Sweet Peat Review
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Bottled at 46% ABV. RRP £52.50
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Creamy
vanilla and fresh apple, with a subtle
hint of pear and a gentle backdrop of
honey and lemon. A very delicate thread
of sweet peat smoke weaves through it
all, supported by a faint whisper of oak
spice lingering underneath.
Taste: A
delightful mix of lightly candied apple
and pear is complemented by sweet,
sugared peat and a smooth, creamy
vanilla custard richness. Notes of
honey, butterscotch and bright lemon
zest add to the taste pleasure, some
lovely late, gentle sweet oak spice.
Finish: A
long and lingering finish, where honey,
apple and pear linger gracefully before
making way for sweet peat, bright lemon
zest, and a warming oak spice to take
the final bow.
Comment:
Sweet Peat offers a beautifully balanced
experience, beginning with a creamy,
fruity nose accented by lovely sweet
peat and oak spices. The interplay of
candied apple, pear, and vanilla custard
is enhanced by honey, butterscotch, and
a refreshing lemon zest, all wrapped in
gentle oak spice and of course Sweet
Peat. The long, graceful finish ties it
all together with lingering fruit and a
warm, sweet, peaty spice. An elegant and
inviting dram.
SMW Whisky Score
90/100
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Local Heros Big Smoke Review
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Bottled at 46% ABV. RRP £55
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This
doesn't open with as Big a Smoke as its
name suggests, at least on the nose,
light and fresh, with a barley sugar
sweetness complemented by honeyed
vanilla toffee and a malty backbone, all
gently intertwined with a lovely thread
of sweet peat smoke.
Taste: Here
comes the peat, very smooth sweet peat
smoke infused delivery, baked apple
pie, pear, and honey which then melts
into a light citrus sweetness, a lovely touch of
pepper and some equally lovely, oaky
vanilla spice adds depth and balance.
Finish: Delicious
Big, sweet, peat smoke lives up to this
whisky's Big Smoke title, the peat peaks
on the palate and lingers for and age
with a lovely peppery, oaky edge.
Comment:
Big Smoke proves to be more nuanced than
its name initially suggests, opening
with a light, honeyed sweetness and
gentle peat on the nose before unveiling
its true character on the palate. The
smooth wave of sweet peat smoke,
intertwined with baked fruits, citrus
brightness, and oaky vanilla spice,
builds beautifully into a long,
lingering finish where the bold, sweet
peat finally takes centre stage. It's a
well-balanced, approachable smoky dram
that rewards patience and delivers its
"big smoke" in a deliciously measured
crescendo.
SMW Whisky Score
88/100
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