Amber-orange, plentiful thin legs. Smoke hits first - but it’s more of a mesquite and medicinal smoke. There’s carrot cake, dried fruits, brine, iodine, vanilla, orange rind, and lids of resin. In some ways I’m reminded of Lag 16 - lots of densely sweet and resinous notes, but no ash and the iodine shouldn’t be there. The brine and mesquite, smoked notes remind me of Springbank 12 cask strength but the funky kippers aren’t there and it’s a bit too dark. It has the heft of Ardbeg Cory but lacks the citrus. Just way more complex than Laphroig. Damn that’s hot!! Pins and needles hot. 120 proof hot, with little restraint. Coating mouthfeel. Cinnamon, mesquite smoke, iodine, oak, dried pineapple… maybe a dash of ash. The finish rests in the throat and is that same resinous sweetness. A drop of water brings out the iodine and grilled pineapple. The palate becomes creamier and more acidic with a bit more citrus than the first go round. There’s also a move from a dark resin to more cinnamon roll and toffee sweetness with prominent, slightly bitter oak and a hint of rancio. Interesting for sure and tips the scale toward increased complexity, but to each their own. Has to be Islay… but who? Thanks to @pkingmartin I’ve now gotten to to take a crack at Port Charlotte! I had snagged a 10 year that remains waiting to be opened but this bad boy… this is MRC:2010 and I was shockingly close on the proof. All 59.2 ABV hits up front and perhaps is a bit much. Water truly changed this and made it seem brighter and more aged at the same time… odd but it worked! Really lovely pour!