Vinyl collectors around the world are always on the hunt for that elusive B-side track, available only as a 45 or demo pressing. As music collectors, many of us covet the rarities from our favorite musicians, as much (if not more) than their standard catalog of albums.

A slight deviation from the expected norm can be thrilling, especially when it offers a deeper and more introspective look at something you truly love and appreciate.

In the case of Balvenie single malt (a whisky we adore here at Mission), their “Collection of Curious Casks” represent the barrels too wonky or outside-the-norm of their everyday expressions to be utilized for standard release. As it pertains to their new 14 year old expression, the whisky is comprised of casks filled directly after Balvenie’s “peat week”—the one week a year that Balvenie distills its smoky whisky.

As it turns out, peat is difficult to get rid of once its in the stills. Hence, some of the distillate produced just after peat week picked up just a touch of that smoke by accident. After 14 years in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, that subtle hint of phenols is both too smoky for the standard Balvenie, and not smoky enough for the peated Balvenie!

What it is, however, is 100% delicious. Not only is the whisky entirely unique in the Balvenie lexicon, it’s one of the best new single malts we’ve tasted this year. The first sip brings orange cream, loads of toasted vanilla beans, and a thick, mouth-coating texture that is surprisingly decadent for a Bourbon barrel-aged single malt. Those flavors morph into baking spices and roasted nuts with just a touch of campfire smoke on the finish.

It’s hard to remember a whisky from Balvenie that didn’t deliver, as it’s one of Scotland’s perennial overachievers. Yet, this little anomaly was a welcome surprise and its flavors perfectly encapsulate the essence of Fall.

To put it more simply, this is the exact whisky you want to be drinking in October. We think you’re going to love it.