Ah, yes, my favorite single malt from Gao, India. I’ve just worked my way through my second bottle of this expressive whisky. This has become a go-to when I want every tastebud overwhelmed. To anthropomorphize this whisky is to evoke someone fantastically gay, like Liberace. Untraditional; unmistakable; undeniably fabulous. I suppose the only problem is only a problem if you’re a weird whisky reviewer or enthusiast such as myself. Sometimes we render the criticism that a bottle tastes great on its own, but side-by-side with another similar whisky, and the flaws show. That really shouldn’t be valid criticism because you should just stop having this whisky side-by-side with other whiskies and enjoy this for what it is. But, side-by-side with a similarly bold and similarly priced Ardbeg Uigeadail, or even the cheaper and more muted Amrut Fusion, this Paul John Peated Select Cask just doesn’t seem composed, and even a little schizoaffective. Like, really, if they put coloring in this whisky, it shouldn’t be E150a; it should be Skittles. This whisky just has all the flavors all the time. Hickory sweetness, fruity, salty, savory, and so much exotic spiciness. The illusion of terroir overtakes me, and I just want to make shit up about how they peated the barley in a tandoor, and that’s how you get the tandoori chicken note. I am probably going to buy a third bottle of this at some point so I can have extravagant madness in a glass whenever I am in the mood again. Score: * (unforgettably good) How much does a bottle cost?: $80-100 How much do I think a bottle is worth?: $90