It opens with a beautifully crisp, savoury kick - think of sliced jalapenos, fresh cut green peppers, and spicy spanish guindilla chillies alongside earthy pickled walnuts and salty preserved lemon. Just as things get properly savoury, Caol Ila's classic, unctuous sweetness sweeps in to balance the ledger, bringing along soft banana with vanillan custard and a thick dollop of sweet condensed milk. It is quintessential creamy Caol Ila, but with a cracking zesty edge.

The arrival is brilliantly aaalive, zippy, and bursting with excellent vibrancy. It drops you straight into a seaside smoking shack, packed with glowing BBQ empers, rich smoked butter, and fresh oyster shells, despite the coastal weight and peat, the spirit remains incredibly ling on its feet and beautifully balanced - making it a highly versatile malt that doesn't demand overthinking.

Long, warming and satisfyingly spicy. The smoke carries right through to the end, shifting into the sophisticated, botanical herbal noted of an artisan white vermouth and a handful of dry woodcuttings that bring the whole experience to the pleasantly dry, clean close.