When Whisky In Isolation teams up with Dan Woolley of Highwayman, you know it’s never going to be boring. Pushing boundaries and having fun is kind of our thing.

With Iron Meaden, our shared love of bold single malt whisky and heavy metal comes crashing together in one head-banging, glass-raising creation.

Built on heavily peated Highwayman new make, this single cask was matured in American Oak Bourbon that has been seasoned with award-winning Australian Mead Liqueur. The result? Smoke, honey, and a little rock ’n’ roll swagger.

For the curious: mead is the world’s oldest fermented drink – honey, water, time. Fortify it with neutral spirit plus a secret blend of herbs and spices, and you’ve got liqueur mead: complex, rich, and just a little mischievous.

If the word “peat” makes you nervous, relax. Iron Meaden isn’t a campfire punch in the face. It’s balanced and layered – sweet and savoury, smoky and salty – a duet between spirit and cask that keeps you coming back for another sip.

And the name? A tribute to the cask and to one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time. Loud, unapologetic, unforgettable – just like the whisky.

Bottle Size: 500ml

ABV: 55.0% ABV

Outturn: 77 bottles

Distillery Tasting Notes

Nose: Black tea leaves and leatherwood honey. Earthy, savory, saltiness with gentle hints of Brazil nuts and cacao nibs. 

Palate: Creamed honey upfront leading into a beautiful savory saltiness. Soft herbal menthol smokiness across the mid palate leading into sweet agave syrup.

Finish: Medium sweet with touches of saltiness 

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: A swirl of blackberry preserve and violet crumble drifts over damp earth and whispering thyme.

Palate: Honey thick as velvet, sticky date pudding and dark chocolate decadence enveloped by the comforting glow of a dying fire.

Finish: Lingering sweet smoke kissed with salt and stone - wild, yet perfectly balanced.