I'm torn on rating this scotch, because I certainly enjoyed it, and because of the abiding loyalty I have for most Laphroaig expressions. It may be disappointing only relative to other Laphroaigs, and I wonder whether it's fair to penalize it for such high expectations. The standout feature of this scotch to me is a letdown at the palate. The nose is pretty interesting, with a strong dose of Laphroaig smoke, rounded out and softened by some truly unusual scents like vegetable peppers, tomatoes (I swear, I got a hint of them!), and rose wine. There's a bit of ethanol or acetone at times, which may just be the higher proof, but also makes me suspect this is younger by a few years than Cairdeas 2015 (which was a delight, and roughly 12 years old). The palate is shockingly nondescript. Perhaps I just can't pick out the subtle flavors in it, but it strikes me as a nondescript sweetness, perhaps watermelon, and then an ashier rendition of the smoke on the nose. The finish is intriguing, a bit hot, but good: smoke, some of the same notes as the nose, tobacco, and coffee. I did not particularly like the first dram I had, but I enjoyed this more when revisiting it. Nonetheless, the flat and simple palate caps its rating at a 3.5 or so for me.