Ardbeg Day Single Marsala Cask #506 14 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 55.3%

Nose: Intensely smoky, with notes of charred embers and cigar smoke entwined with hand-rolled tobacco and leather. A rich, fruity undercurrent soon emerges, brimming with orange zest, poached apricot, and spiced fig compote – tinged with the sweet depth of molasses and dark Muscovado sugar. A little water releases more perfumed tones of rose petals, sandalwood and incense, with wisps of peat smoke ever-present.

Palate: A powerful and mouth-coating mix of sweet, savoury and smoky flavours. Notes of fruit cake bursting with candied orange, dates and raisins, are laced with clove, cinnamon and star anise. Rich layers of dark chocolate, walnut and treacle toffee follow on, balanced by smoked meats, capers and roasted chestnuts. A persistently earthy curl of smoke leads into a peppery, chilli-tinged heat.

Finish: Long and complex. Chewy peat oils and hints of ash are threaded with tobacco leaf and maple-smoked wood. Finally, comes the lingering sweetness of honeycomb and marmalade.