I have avoided it myself largely, but "drinking hairspray" is also a comparison I have heard.

Oh dear God. I'm not unadventurous, I've had Laphroaig and liked it, but this just seems actively unpleasant on every level.

I love this comparison because I was just reading through this and thinking that I'd take a shot of Malort over a shot of whiskey ANY day, no question. I get why people don't like it, I don't go seeking it out, but if you're not sensitive to bitterness it's worth trying once just to say you did it.