As classic as a young Islay malt can be. Matured in refill casks, and then made only slightly rounder and gentler by a finish for 32 months in first fill ex-bourbon hogsheads, it’s intense and very aromatic, but also very balanced. At the nose, the peat smoke is initially slightly restrained: it remains hidden by the alcohol and the marked fruitiness (pears, bananas, lemon peel), and even with water it’s well integrated with the other aromas. But the tarry and ashy smokiness becomes immediately evident at the first sip, although it never becomes a peat monster. The background sweetness makes it rounder and easy to drink, and the dark bonfire notes are matched by an equivalently intense breezy, fresh and balsamic touch of mint and camphor. Very long, lingering and warm in the aftertaste, which becomes ashier and ashier.