Nose: Mild nose-feel. Very reserved, and slow. At first, teasing fruit acidity (red apple skins) and dried fruits, with sweeter notes (rum toffee, chocolate brownies). Quickly then, sooty smoke (a burned out peat fire) with, after a while, alluring, aromatic spices (frankincense, clove, cedar) and polished oak, followed by more fruit, now boiled sweets. Water makes it more maritime, with iodine, menthol and beach scents, but there are also notes of milk chocolate and soft vanilla toffee in the smoky development.Body: Medium.
Palate: Drinks well at full strength. Slow but consistent, with autumn berries and dried fruit. Cherry stones. Cooling at first, then becoming hot and lively. Water (add only a little) brings up a pleasant smooth texture. It’s now quite sweet and again cooling to start (tart au chocolat) then warming overall, with some salt, a trace of acidity and some very measured, slightly sooty, smoke.
Finish: Long, with roasted malt, the ghost of black pepper, and some nutmeg in the smoky and savoury aftertaste.

ABV 57.3%