CHARACTER – Refined, confident, a little extra age has tempered some of the vitality but this dram has gained a classic, timeless feel.

AROMA – Initially smoke, tar, peat ash hint of muddiness/wet peat moss. Candied orange, pepper, chocolate, macaroon, vanilla fudge and lemon meringue pie.

TASTE – Liquid gold, so and delicate texture from slow distillation. Superb fruit/smoke combination. On the lips there is so kiss of salt spray, ozone fresh. Sweet oak gives vanilla, fudge, marzipan and walnut. Melon and citrus come through on a floral breeze. Many layered there is a lot to find in this Octomore.

FINISH – Dry peat smoke, iodine and oak sweetness combine. Hints of mint and bog myrtle fade with the lingering peat smoke, as ever, the last flavour to go.

COLOUR – Winter sun, crisp and bright.