Rating: 17/23 N: Smoky wood. It has a bit of a barbecue quality to it, but not in a meaty way. I do get that fruit tree scent. It's quite ashy, but there is a sweetness as well. There's also a surprising herbal quality to this and some astringency coming off of the smoky tannins. There are some definite fruity scents, but they aren't especially sweet. Maybe blackcurrant and tart cherry. P: I taste that ashy smoke right away. There's a definite fruity side to it. Cherry, plum, blackberry, baking spices, herbs. It's funky and challenging, but also kind of decadent. Aside from the ash, a lot of wines would kill to taste like this. Surprisingly little malt flavor. I'm getting the impression that this distillery's malt isn't that flavorful. Maybe I've been having too much Longmorn lately. This really doesn't taste nearly as high proof as it is. Sure, there's a bite, but not one that suggests a dram approaching HazMat proof. Oh, there is some rich vanilla in here too. F: Rich with herbs, faint nuttiness, and actually more malty sweetness than it had before. Some pepper as well. Notes of black cherry, blackberry, and plum as well. - Conclusion - That weird smoky flavor reminds me a lot of Copper Fox's young, smoked rye (14/23), though the flavor works a lot better here. This is funky in a unique way, but I do like it. This also reminds me of Corsair Hydra (20/23), which was also smoked with fruit wood. The Corsair is less sour and more complex though. The boldness here is nice, but I have to give the Corsair the win. Signatory's North British 28 Cask Strength 1991 (17/23) has a sweeter syrupiness while also having that ashiness. I'd call the North British more decadent. The herbaceousness and tartness of this really come out in comparison. This is a really interesting dram and I think that it's good enough to get a 17 based on its plentiful character, but it's certainly not the most enjoyable.