Nose A little rubbery suggestion is broken by a crash of sea spray with smouldering ash underneath. There's a slight shellfish sweetness among wild heather and oily oak. Browning apples, nectarines and lemon tart rise with notes of glacé ginger and subtly floral malt, while slick vanilla, a smack of butterscotch, crisp bacon and maple syrup, and a touch of jasmine tea linger throughout.
Palate Over a note of firewood there’s chewy vanilla toffees, apricot jam, juicy wood spices and a little dried barley. Elements of sour citrus and maritime salinity percolate among these flavours, while smoked almonds and grass clippings reside pleasantly underneath.
Finish The finish leaves a residue of clam juice, an almost agricole-esque note which rises through the sweet smoke.
Overall Aye-yay-Islay! There’s smoke, sea and the perfect amount of sweetness to make this dram everything you want from an Islay expression – great for a Highball.