(White tube version) 48% abv Non-chill filtered Color added Nose: rich and complex, with a potent but far from overpowering peat smoke of road tar, medicinal and martine notes. Other notes include floral; dark chocolate fudge; lime; vanilla; brine; damp oak wood; sweet dark fruits like plum and raisin. Also a hint of herbs like parsley along with baked goods...gingerbread, perhaps? So much happening here. Taste: full, sweet, savory and oily. Medium bodied. The peat smoke spice hits you first but quickly makes room for an explosion of other subtle notes. I seem to pick up something new each time.l, especially after leaving sit in the glass with a few drop of water in it. In no particular order: chili pepper; lime citrus; vanilla; cinnamon sugar; caramel; floral; fudge; toffee; sea salt; umami from a hint of seaweed and fish sauce; teriyaki bbq; nuttiness like hazelnut or almond; bitter herb. Finish: medium and buttery. A slight ashy peat lingers along with sweets like vanilla, red apple and raw honey, also dark chocolate espresso, almond, lime juice/salt like from the rim of a margarita glass, menthol, and a slight tartness which reminds me of pomegranate. Value: this is discontinued, so if you see it on a shelf it may be as little as $100 (buy immediately) otherwise prepare to spend hundreds on the secondary market. Final thoughts: What a whisky. This was a dynamite expression from Laphroaig, pure and simple. It’s complexity simply mesmerizes, and has a balance so integrated it makes this 48% malt drink like its a 40%. The signature peat smoke is there, but it’s part of the orchestra with this Laphroaig. The finish is a littler shorter than I’d want, but it’s such a minor ding that it was almost not worth even mentioning. It’s a damn shame this work of art is not still available, but I’ll say this: you only live once, so if you see this for even $200, pull the trigger. Score: 4.5/5 Highly recommend buying a bottle. (I’ve got a few green tube versions as well which I’ll compare to this in the near future.)