Nose: sweet and sugary, a lovely creme brulee with floral notes. Buttery with light smoke coming through the sweetness.
Palate: Very round. Smooth and easy drinking with a bit of cooked orange.
Finish: Here the smoke comes through and reveals that this is indeed an Islay dram. Warming spices add to this smooth and long finish.
Overall: A really solid whisky and the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Worth queuing up for. Not so much a sherry lion as a sherry lamb.