I’m not sure the CS version is the same as the regular 10, only at cask strength, but the difference between both since the mid-1990s is an ode to higher strengths, even if recent batches are maybe less stunning that the first ones. Ah, the 1-litre, duty-free bottle from around 1995! Colour: pale gold. Nose: let’s be quick (I’m also nosing an old 10 CS just now): this is much more monodimensional, more on straight, mineral and medicinal peat and much, much less on fruits. Now, I like straight, mineral and medicinal peat. It’s also very grassy. Certainly more medicinal and more ‘Laphroaig’ than the first batch of this new 10 CS. With water: more sea breeze, seaweed and wet dogs. It became sort of gentler. A little tar and rubber in the background. Mouth (neat): sharp peat, a little earthy, more lemony than on the nose, rooty and rather ‘green’. Apple peelings, fresh walnuts. With water: not really complex yet but almost perfect now. Sweeter and rounder, with a perfect balance between the peat and the ‘resinous’ fruitiness. Fresh almonds and green apples. Finish: long, clean, ‘narrow’ but quite superb. Cough syrup and pepper, with touches of cumin. Ashes in the aftertaste with a big peatiness. Comments: extreme peat for dedicated peat freaks, you need quite some water to tame this baby. Having said that, quality’s high and I feel it’s a little better (okay, okay, I like it a little better) than batch 001 from last year. SGP:268 - 90 points.