2018 ISLAY FESTIVAL BOTTLING

The nose was a maritime meander – waxed jackets by the seafood shack, beach bonfire burnt sticks and trawlers in the harbour – also coal-tar shampoo and one panellist got tea-tree, eucalyptus and mescal. The palate, notwithstanding Bakewell tarts and blackcurrant sweets, had powerful brush-strokes of smoke, ash and tar, burnt cork and salted liquorice – enough to satisfy the socks off any peat-freak.

The reduced nose – oysters on a ferry, lemon bonbons, lavender, putty and Bovril. The palate now rewarded us with moist gingerbread, clove and salted pretzels – a night-cap dram to evoke ‘the tangle o’ the Isles’ and ensure Hebridean dreams.