Rating: 14/23 It's interesting that this is almost technically an Islands scotch, but it isn't because it includes Islay. I wasn't a fan of The Epicurean (another Douglas Liang blend), but I acknowledged at the time that malt from the Lowlands is a tough sell since the region specializes in grain whisky. Using Islands + Islay malts though, there is no such excuse for being unable to produce a good whisky. N: Wow, there's some nice peat in this, as evidenced by its rubber/tar/tobacco smell. It also has some good sea spray lightness. Following Black Bottle, I do get a bit of sulfur, but not too much and it gives a bit of a mezcal (think Los Vecinos Espadin) savoriness and hint of earthiness that is nice. I also get some mineral and light citrus, as well as a bit of apple eventually. I get some cereal, suggesting this whisky's youth, but I have to say that when it comes to the nose, this beats Black Bottle handily and it's darned fine by its own merits. P: Wow, what a statement! I get peat with some sweet lemon mixed with minerals and sea spray with a beautiful freshness. It's light, but a very impressive blend. The peat is more herbal than savory, but there is a bit of umami going on here. There's a bit of a clean spring water sugary flavor to it that works very well. The smoke comes in nicely too, adding a richness the borders on chocolate at times. I'm struggling to identify and describe all of the flavors that are present here, but they swirl nicely, presenting interesting and tasty flavors that constantly change. It reminds me a bit of Ardbeg Corryvreckan. The Ardbeg is smoother, richer, more complex, and more balanced, with a lot more peat and smoke, so I think that it's a lot better, but the comparison flatters this dram. Hopping over to a side-by-side with Los Vecinos Espadin, the Los Vecinos is bolder and fuller with more flavors that really stand out. I might prefer the Los Vecinos slightly more, but this does have some nice toasted grain going on in comparison. What really stands out to me though is that this and the Los Vecinos are actually quite similar in profile. F: The tartness with the savory, smoky peat remains, along with some sweetness hinting at caramel, something a bit roasted, and some cereal. It's a tad disappointing, which leads me to consider going with a 14 instead of a 15, but the long tail of peat showcasing tobacco, coffee and chocolate puts me back at 15 for now This is less medicinal and more youthful than Ardbeg Corryvreckan, but it is quite enjoyable. It's a whole different character and it balances well. I think I'd take this over Black Bottle, so I'm looking at a 14 to 15. Nikka From the Barrel has a richer maltiness with more age that I do prefer, but this clearly has a place and I can see myself turning down a richer whiskey on a warm afternoon to have a zippy, refreshing pour of Rock Oyster instead. I might also use it in place of mezcal in a cocktail for a fun twist That sulfur is present, so I think pushing past 15 is difficult, but it's barely there. The real thing holding this back is its lightness, which is apparent in spite of its proof. Los Vecinos Espadin - which is unaged, a somewhat light mezcal, and has a lower proof - is somehow fuller than this is. I'm really torn between that 14 and 15 here. I think that considering the lightness and sulfur here, this more falls into the 14 bucket, but it is still quite satisfying.