OK so I haven't had the much vaunted 18. I wanted to get my bearings on this unique Orcadian whisky distiller before I step on the ice with an 18 year old Wayne Gretzky. Having recently purchased David Broom's Atlas of Whiskey I was mostly excited to see the difference between the more typical Islay peat found in Laphroaig and countless others versus this Orkney exclusive Hobbister Moor peat. I can certainly see a difference. While I have enjoyed very much the Lagavulins and Taliskers I have had this stuff is definitely different. It is certainly sweeter and has lovely creamy mouthfeel with a medium to long finish. A warm but not hot experience. Smoke is, for me anyway, perfectly balanced and perhaps the Hobbister peat gives it the earthy taste of green vegetation that I find. This is the defining moment or characteristic here, that earthiness that's like the Brian May solo in a Queen tune; the defining moment and yet a perfectly assimilated part of the whole. It smoothes out the smoke a tiny bit and is an open door for a noob like me to stroll right through. Just wonderful, very solid value vs the Talisker 10 of comparable quality. I can only imagine what the 18 is like. I'm going to take my time with this bottle and besides what's the rush this scotch whisky is no stepping stone. 94/100.