Tastes

The nose does not suggest the ABV. You expect a burn at 57.1%, but you will be pleasantly surprised. Forward sweetness, figs, black strap molasses. Decent medium finish with burn at the end. Wow! Really love it.

Oily mouthfeel. Palate dominated by a punch of cayenne quickly yielding to honey. As with Laphroaig, the nose mimics Latakia tobacco smoke, but the peat is subsidiary on the palate.

No complexity, but plenty of honesty. Tentative vanilla. Liberally peppered. Sweet followed by slightly sour nose. Plenty of sugar at the start, then the pepper kicks in. Finish is moderate and delivers the first note of grain. No complaints at all.

This isn't classic Islay peat; the Latakia note you typically find in Ardbeg or Laphroaig is way in the background. it's smoky, but a different kind of smoky. There is a turpentine-esque hint in the nose. On the palate, you get a short sharpness right off the bat, then it settles down to sweetness, then it turns around a bites you again on the finish, which is long.

Not too sweet. The barrel really shines through. Quality barrels. Not "smooth" by any stretch, but no challenging flavors. Good stuff.