I have been buying Balvenie single Barrel and other offerings for nearly 20 years. I find the product to be a great entry level Scotch Whiskey, Peaty, but not overpowering, Smokey but not too much. This is a great bottle to start your adventure with Scotch Whiskey. It introduces you to the complex flavors and I love being able to buy numbered bottles from the same barrel to display the differences from various places in the barrel. I can't say it's an Island Scotch, but it is a beautiful example of a carefully made artisanal product. I can always count on Balvenie to deliver a great flavor, every dram!