They say you always remember your "first." It was a little over a year ago during a business trip to South Africa. An intentional day-long layover in London was planned with a solitary destination in mind: Milroy’s of Soho. A whisky-lover's Mecca. "I have the palate of an 80 year-old cigar smoker," this Islay girl explained to the gentleman behind the bar. I don't think he believed me at first. We wended our way thru Laphroigs and Bowmores and another Gaelic distiller my Italian ear would surely mangle. When I proved myself capable with those, he made the fated introduction. It was my first Bruichladdich. With a 169 PPM level - almost four times the peat of a regular peated whisky - he explained their Octomore is the most heavily peated in the world. My hopes were high. How could this not be the dram...of my dreams? As per the scant amount remaining in the bottle, this love affair is certainly one I'll always remember... ...and will always return to. Nose: Sweet but not treacly. Vanilla. Caramel. The smoke, I was surprised to discover, is not overwhelming. Palate: Layered. Honey. Then a shot of pepper and black licorice that slowly wraps itself around the tongue. With a blanketing of cool earth soon to follow. Finish: Long. Satisfying. Intense. Just like the most memorable relationships. And that smoke? It burns, to be sure. But in a good way. Finishing off into a smooth linger. A very good finish indeed.