Pale and slightly flinty to start, with touches of Caol lla-style salt-washed rocks, but here there's sweetness, while the smoke gives it a mezcal-like air; pears and burning wood (hot brake pads), minerality, then green olive and a light medicinal note. With water, sashimi-style cleanliness. The palate is rounded, with real olive oil, peppery sweetness, soot, and white chocolate. A real ‘palate whisky,' filled with bare-faced bravado. A great Ardbeg.