Almost six years of finish in a first fill Bourbon hogshead for this Islay malt made it only moderately gentle, but still very peated: the distillery style, medium bodied and very smoky, still remains intact. At the nose it’s only a bit more restrained than expected, with fresh, breezy and flowery notes, but still with plenty of peat smoke. Its taste is smooth, not aggressive: not markedly sweet, actually rather salty, with a perfumy attack, very coastal. There are faint vegetal traits, a bit of grass and seaweed, and only towards the end a slightly oaky and earthy notes starts to grow. Due to its age, it’s a tiny bit gentler than younger expressions, but still punchy: an Islay malt that will please lovers not only of smokiness, but also of balance and freshness.