If I could label this review I believe I would call it “A Tale of Two Seasons”. I was originally gifted an entire bottle of this malt for my birthday back in 2016, from my buddy Ryan. We both drank through this bottle over the course of a few weeks- I enjoyed the peatiness, he enjoyed the bourbon-esque heat. So, it went down quicklynand with some enthusiasm. I was in my scotch hobby’s infancy and left a cheesy, non-descript review over on Barreled. Take a look: Barreled 4/2016: I get a kick out of highland distillers trying their hand at peat smoked single malts, especially when they are done pretty well. This one is no exception- it's appearance is light, like most highland styles and it feels light on the palate, but it packs a nice, velvety smoke all the way through the finish. Reminds me of the Port Charlotte Heavy Peat. Very smooth, not too dry and really enjoyable. I imagine this would pair very well with smoked meats like pork BBQ or beef brisket. 4 stars. Man, what insight I had. Well, thanks to my Long Island connection, @Scott_E- I get to try this one again. Let’s see how well this malt held up/how well my palate has improved, shall we? This Speyside malt from Benromach was aged in first fill bourbon barrels and bottled at a robust 46% ABV. It’s peat level is measured at 62ppm and it’s a beautiful light gold in the Glencairn. It’s oily in appearance and doesn’t create many legs when you spin it a bit. The nose starts with a strong, but youthful smoke that immediately yields to a battle between oak barrel and citrus peel. The sweetness is well hidden but after a little time I get some gala and green apples. The smell is a plus, even though it’s tedious to work through. The palate is very harsh and abrasive. Very abrasive. The higher ABV may be the culprit, but I suspect age is also a problem- it’s just too young. I believe it’s approximately 8 year old stock. There’s plenty of peat smoke on the tongue- you just have to sit there and let the whisky sizzle to experience it. No thanks. The finish is desert-like: hot and very dry. I felt like I was gasping for breath. Thankfully it dies a relatively quick death. It’s not enjoyable in the least. Overall, I’m not so sure I knew what the hell I was talking about a couple of years ago because this thing is a chore to drink. I love smoke and I love cask strength whisky, but I don’t love how these two tried to bring those things together. Sorry Scott, but this one doesn’t make the grade for me. 2.5stars, at best. Let’s move on...