This was my first bottle from Ardbeg. I was searching for an Islay scotch to try when I first started drinking scotch and while Ardbeg 10 year seemed to be the safe choice, I read a ton about this bottle, so I decided to forgo the 10 year and go with this one. I was blown away when I first tried it, which quickly led to buying the 10 year (which is also very good). The nose hits you quickly with the peat, some vanilla, spices and sherry. On the palate you get hit with the peat, but it opens up to reveal citrus peel and some sweetness. It definitely has some heat to it, which isn't unexpected given the high ABV. The finish is very long with smoke, pepper and a touch of bitterness. I typically don't add water when I'm drinking scotch neat, but with the higher than usual ABV, I did try it with a couple drops and it does seem to tone down the burn and add a touch of raisin and fig on the palate. Either way though, it is a very balanced scotch and while not for everyone, since it does lean heavily into the peat, I still think it's one of the better offerings from Ardbeg.