Vital Stats: Single malt, 17 years old, aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at 52.9%.
Appearance: Pale gold
Nose: Zesty and bright, with sweet apricot, white peach, and melon enlivened by vanilla, lemon peel, and tropical fruits. A muscular vein of high, pure peat emerges alongside a bit of grilled meat and deeply integrated oak. There’s a laser-like focus here, clear and distinct. With water, there’s more smoke, earth, and salinity.
Palate: Smoky at first, with plenty of char and smolder, before a tart wave in the mid-palate ushers in an unfolding of Riesling-like fruits: apricot, melon, grapefruit, papaya, citrus. There’s a touch of toffee in the long finish, with the smoke and fruit matching each other, step by step, right up to the end. A bit of water enhances the body, making it fuller and sweeter