Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke

Nose: You have to work a bit and it made me sneeze, but it is worth it. I like noses that draw from two of the big types, and this one qualifies - you've got a campfire and you've got stewed fruits. I'm not that good with the individual notes, but you get the gist.

Mouth: It's a tiny bit shrill at first but when it settles it's rather gorgeous; vanilla up front with loads of old dry peat behind (grew up on a croft). The sweetness comes from more fruit but there's something quite citrusy about it actually, maybe that's the slightly shrill not up front but it settles in nicely with the dram. This is different without being unnecessarily huge, and I like it.

After: More stewed fruit, but something a bit different again, peppery, a little bit sharp for me but it's a real journey. Unusual from front to back.