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The use of a first fill bourbon hogshead adds just the right touch of oak, of creamy sweetness, to this crisp and smoky Islay single malt, preserving the style of the spirit without taming it too much. At the nose it’s of course dominated by the intense peat smoke, by maritime notes of iodine and sea spray, but it also has a slightly herbaceous and citrusy touch. Quite a bright and sunny style, but with a hint of darkness lurking beneath. Gifted with a robust mouthfeel, it seems juicy and rather rounded at first, but then it turns out to be still rather dry in style: huge peat smoke, very ashy, again rather vegetal, but with an undercurrent of spicy tannins. At the end, it grows particularly peppery and lively.