I finally broke into a sample of the Quarter Cask that I’ve been sitting on. Our trip to western Scotland is coming up in a couple of weeks and includes stops in Islay, Arran, and Campbeltown, so this is like cramming for finals, only more fun. After removing the small cap from the Whisky Exchange sample I was delighted by the traditional Laphroaig campfire smoke wafting from the tiny opening. I thought, “Wow, this could be the one….the king of peat smoke I’ve been searching for.” The way Lagavulin 16 tasted when I tried my first Islay 20 years ago and declared, “How the hell can anyone drink this stuff? It tastes like drinking straight iodine!“ Back then I held up the bottle fully expecting to see a big chunk of peat floating in the whisky. This was the first naive step in the addiction that followed and brings us to today. This whisky is comprised of spirits ranging from 5 to 11 years old and comes in with a healthy ABV of 48% and is non-chill filtered. It’s light gold in color and double matured with the final 6-8 months resting in 125 liter ex-bourbon quarter casks. The company claims this expression harkens to an era over a century ago when quarter casks were used to facilitate transport. Others argue, the higher wood-to-spirit ratio is designed to accelerate maturation and thereby meet demand for a burgeoning marketplace the Wall Street Journal describes as having grown by 126% since 2005. Nosing the Glencairn the wood influence is immediately noticeable and having an elegance reminiscent of the French limousin oak used to age Jura Prophesy. A drying glass will produce the exquisite scent of centuries old poplar. The New England clambake briny smoke is tame compared to the 10yo & 10yo CS versions and is accompanied by vanilla toffee, oaken spiciness, and alcoholic dryness. The first taste contains peppery effervescence that settles into a creamy peppercorn sauce smothering a grilled sirloin. It is followed by light smoke, vanilla saltwater taffy, and citrus notes. It finishes dry with oaken tannins, again noticeable, and slightly ashy, which is both typical of Laphroaig and very likable. My search continues, but, nonetheless, a great whisky and a solid 4 stars!