This is one you either like or you don't. I learned to appreciate it for its very high, leathery, smoke, and medicinal peat flavors, but it's not something I feel like drinking every day. Unlike the Lagavulin 16, this doesn't have the overall balance and depth. I'm surprised that the critics have given this a higher score. There is no comparison. If you like the smell of a sharpie pen, you will absolutely love this. Every time I open it up, my wife asks who is using a sharpie? Despite the strong characteristics, it goes down very smoothly and has some nice vanilla on the end.