Every bottling has a different story, every time the whisky matures in a different way. This time, the influence of a 9 months finish in very active Virgin Oak casks resulted in something different: no buttery, creamy, smooth notes that mask the peat… but on the contrary, a very robust aromatic backbone that amplifies the Islay character! At the nose, the medicinal notes of iodine are stronger than ever: bold, rustic, tarry, earthy. There’s a slightly sour note of balsamic vinegar, and of a touch of old oak. It almost smells winey, even if it was not matured in wine casks. At the palate it’s powerful and stormy: a blast of black pepper, peat, liquorice root and pinewood bonfires. No evident sweetness: the tannins work together with the peat to turn the smokiness to eleven! A brawny, loud and undisciplined Islay malt!