Very light and clear colour, supposedly no caramel coloring and non-chill filtered. Smells of a very appetizing bbq/mesquite smoke straight away, with almost a sweet ripe orange whiff if you really get into it. Makes you really want to go straight into it and forget trying to identify other notes on the nose! Taste starts with briny zing to the outer edges of the tongue, rolling into bitter smoke throught the tongue and a spicy climax all over the mouth - tasting like every bit true to its 46% ABV. In many ways this is similar to the Lagavulin 16, but without the obvious sherry influence, which is replaced by a more grassy malt sweetness mid-palate. Very oily mouthfeel that you can feel even on your lips. Thick body that leaves a lingering bitter smoke, spicy sensation for quite some time. Your nose will smell like burnt meat and spicy mustard on the exhale for the next 30 minutes after the last sip - this thing lingers! I imagine that this puckering bitterness can be unpleasant for those who prefer sweet bourbon / rum. This bottle tastes like how most people think Islay whiskies SHOULD taste like. This should be everyone's Islay staple.