With a finish of 12 months in very active American virgin oak barrels, this is a very unusual take on this classic Islay single malt. The deep golden colour betrays the influence from the oak, which is confirmed by the first whiff at the nose: the breezy and smoky character is initially almost muted, and it takes several minutes in the glass to really shine through. The smokiness from the peat is there, but enveloped in a tapestry of liquorice, medicinal herbs, sandalwood, and even a touch of incense. At the first sip, it’s very full bodied, muscular and deep: the rich tannins from the casks are at the same time very smooth and intense. It’s creamy but not necessarily sweet, with a dark tarry character.