Nose

A strong waft of dried ginger, nutmeg, white pepper, butterscotch sauce and a spiky but closed peat wait to spring out of the cupboard at you.

Palate

Hot and very peppery, with a zingy dry chipotle note, leading into some very direct iodine/peat smoke dry brown toast and a little potted shrimp.

Finish

There's no escaping the peat or the pepper, but each are well balanced, giving way to a malty undertone.

Comment

Sometimes the palate cries out for whiskies as direct as this, especially on cold days like today.