Taster

Nose: Peaty, burnt grass.

Palate: Cracker-like crisp maltiness. Leafy, herbal flavours. A hint of seaweed.

Finish: Smoky. Both appetising and warming. Very distinctive.

Comment: A lean and lively Laphroaig, more smoky than seaweedy. The flavours are long and persistent. Enjoyable, more-ish and appetising.

Score: 8.8

Taster

Nose: Strangely pale. Immediate hot blast of iodine, toasting sea shell, tar and driftwood burning. Sooty, a touch of smoky paprika. In time lanolin and TCP.

Palate: Seems young. Bone dry. Very smoky, tarry neat. Water coaxes out a sweet fruitiness.

Finish: Dry.

Comment: The colour indicates a second/third fill cask: it's spirit not cask in charge.

Score: 8.8