This malt, bottled by an independent which identifies is as "South Islay," has just landed in Vancouver. From googling, I gather it has been around elsewhere for about a year.
I see there's a great deal of discussion out there about which distillery it's from. I've seen suggestions it's a young Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Ardbeg or Laphroaig.
My money's on Lagavulin. Smokehead is very similar to what I recall of a couple of earlier anonymous young Islays, The Ileach and the Dun Bheagan; the consensus in this group a number of years ago was that they were young -- maybe six to eight years old -- Lagavulins. Going by notes only since I haven't tasted it, the Finlaggan fits the same profile. A distant second place, Caol Ila. I discount the Ardbeg because the taste profile is not right, and in any case they're selling their young malts with their own label for twice the price of the Smokehead. Why would they sell it cheaper to an independent? It's a bit reminiscent of the Laphraoig 10, but my palate says that's not quite it.
In any case, it's exactly what I like in a single malt: big, in-your-face smoke, peat and creosote/Islaydine, with other underlying tastes if you look for them. I'm going to pick up a few more bottles of it soon, before it runs out. This has great potential to be my everyday single malt.
If anyone else has tasted it, I'd be interest in your impressions. If you haven't and you like the South Islay style, I highly recommend it.
cheers.