Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012

Nose: Smoke, fruit, malt, char, spice and a touch of bubblegum. Palate: Malt, smoke, spice, fruit, and a bit of char and bubblegum. Finish: Long -> Fruit and smoke.

Had the Octomore 10.3 recently, and this is pretty much the junior-varsity version — same concept minus the intensity. The peat is the glossy petrol variety, not the marshy or medicinal kind. I also get briny buttered popcorn on the nose and caramel and cotton in the mouth. Overall, then, you’d think the combination tastes like kettle corn, but it doesn’t. Nice mid-length finish rounds out a solid dram for a fair price.