A finish of almost a year in custom-made first fill bourbon hogsheads – larger than the usual barrels – is the special key to the unique style of this Islay single malt. It’s the perfect balance between the fiery smoke and maritime notes of youth, and the gentle, sweet, caressing influence of the oak. At the nose it’s peaty and full of iodine, very breezy, but also rich of fresh citrusy notes and a whiff of banana and vanilla. It’s at the tasting, though, that the creamy influence of the first fill bourbon is more evident: in spite of the sharp smokiness, it’s not an aggressive whisky at all. On the contrary, it is smooth, rich of herbal notes, lemon peel, again banana and vanilla, and a touch of chamomile too. The oak never becomes too dominant, anyway, as we are reminded of by the very peppery, dry and mineral finale.