85 / 100
Apples, vanilla and chopped herbs give the opening a gentle mix of fruit and herbal notes, while the smoke is light and elegant but still comes forward. That restraint doesn’t carry through every stage: wood smoke becomes more prominent on the palate alongside grilled fruit and fresh lemon peel, and the finish builds through oak spice into peat smoke and herbs. The vanilla and developing oak spice suit my tastes, and I like how the fruit has room before the smoke takes the lead. I’d be less drawn to the finish when looking for a light touch all the way through, but the change from a softer opening to a more forceful close makes sense here.
Reviewed by honeycomb.tram
- Nose
- apples, vanilla, chopped herbs, light, elegant but up-front smoke, a hint of burnt wood
- Palate
- more prominent wood smoke, grilled fruit, fresh lemon peel
- Finish
- growing oak spice, peat smoke, herbs