Taster

Nose: A complex and almost feral quality. Starts buttery with a little raisin then comes the perfumed smoke then dunnage, warm bracken, nuts, digestive biscuit, light oak.

Palate: Smoke develops fully here:paprika-coated nuts, wood embers, incense. Explodes in the middle of the tongue bringing out a lightly medicinal quality, then cedar.

Finish: Complex and long.

Comment: A fascinating, exotic, Caol Ila and all the better for being relatively young.

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: Prickly and spirity at first. Once the nose gets used to the high strength, it captures the islander atmosphere. Creosote, cold ashes, bog myrtle.

Palate: Very crisp and tangy. Sooty, dry. The alcohol bite is even more drying.Water releases sweet malty flavours and fresh mint.

Finish: Dry, slightly astringent with a sweet aftertaste.

Comment: A straight forward Islay malt. The untamed beast? Too strong in alcohol for me.

Score: 7.3