[Batch 004/Jan 2012/58.6%]: Surprisingly, immediately on the nose, sweet honey, light sweet smoke and iodine and ocean air, like a damp, cool August beach day. Slowly intensifying tongue burn that bites hard and hangs around for a good length of time. Creamy, smooth full texture with small amounts on sweetness on the palate with strong oak, some salt and drying tannins. Very dry and oaky finish with the cherry and slight bitterness; the dry and the bitter are well balanced. The addition of water intensifies the sweetness and brings out cherry notes while it dulls the light smoke and iodine. With water, the bite is not as harsh and the the dram rounds and softens out. The sweetness, like the nose, is strengthened. I think I prefer with a splash. I will have to revisit another time for settle that internal debate (oh well!) [Settled 12/30/14] Extremely long finish. This is where smoke makes its presence known, ever so subtly. Overall, this is a great dram to enjoy on a cool, crisp day by a fire. A sweet, less phenolic Laphroaig. [Dry Glass: Ash and toffee][$59][90/100][Opened 9/29/2014][Revisited:5/24/15; 3/25/16;11/5/16]