Tastes

dark, like a bourbon sweet, rich, tropical, cinnamon, red berries, quite sharp/alcoholic for being 43% slightly astringent, grapes, wood, dried apple skins, alcohol heat finish is bitter and short-ish

color: dark gold nose: raisins, honey, ginger, lemon, cognac, raspberry jello, vanilla... with water: nutmeg, vanilla frosting, peaches, rum, licorice palate: spicy, apple, astringent, honeyed, slight oak, citrus finish: somewhat hot

appearance: dark orange (apparently, the correct term is tawny or auburn). many slow moving legs nose: iodine, pepper, moss/seaweed, reminiscent of Talisker 10, caramel sweetness, rich, something fruity (dried apricot? citrus?), musty; with a drop of water, floral (lavender), and an exotic tea-like quality. for a second, I thought I smelled farts and dog food, but not long or strong enough to put me off! palate: sweetness, caramel/toffee, spice, brine, chewy, rich and dry at the same time; with a drop of water, some milk chocolate finish: some heat, long lasting, smoky ash and fishiness this is a complex and savory dram. almost like a love child between laphroaig and talisker, but more enjoyable to me than either. while I hate using 'smooth', that's what this is (which is to say, it won't punch you in the face). it would not make a bad first islay peat monster, and is more affordable than caol ila 12, which is often compared and has similar profile

nose: banana, wood spice (pencil shavings), tobacco, dried fruits, nutmeg, coffee, citrus, oats palate: milk chocolate, old wood, apple skins, peach, especially with the addition of water and time spent in the glass finish: rye spices, long I found this to be quite watery and... "subtle", for lack of a better term. You're better off buying the original, or one of their single barrel offerings

color: medium gold nose: tropical fruits, grassy, lemon, citrus, vanilla, honey, herbal, slightly funky almost like a cross between an cnoc and glenlivet palate: gummies (pineapple), honey, oak, red apple, milk chocolate in the back finish: dry, slightly hot, hint of smoke, nutty

color: tawny/auburn nose: spice, new wood, fruit (strawberry?), chamomile, vanilla, some slight sulfur and brine? palate: cocoa, apple skins, dry, oak, tea finish: astringent, short there is also something slightly 'flabby' or artificial lurking in the back. I would have LOVED this if I had come across it early on in my journey. certainly more enjoyable than the Bushmills 16, which is of a similar price, age, and uses same cask type, abv, etc. there are things I both love and hate about it...

color: burnished copper nose: honey, citrus, chocolate, brine, peaches, cinnamon, perfume palate: citrus, vanilla, apples, dried fruit finish: hot, short this is like the child of springbank 10. was expecting a lot worse, given some of the negative reviews plus price and gimmicky bottle. perhaps would improve with a slightly higher abv?