Duncan Taylor Bunnahabhain 7 Year (2014)

Color: Dirty rainwater Nose: Vanilla pods soaked in sea spray over a tidal pool. Mild lemon meringue brightens it a bit. Palate: Spicy chili peppers with bright cereal malts. Ashy, charry peat smoke as well, but very malt-forward. Finish: Meaty and salty, punctuated by a lingering, sooty persistence. Diluted: Nose recalls lemons, limes, and a little caramelly sweetness. Palate really opens up to sweeter notes, including white chocolate and candied nuts roasted over a campfire. Finish remains sturdy, but a little sweeter.