The Sassenach Blended Scotch

An excellent dram. Balanced, subtle, tasty. N: 4.0/5 A whisper of the sea, orchard fruits (peaches, apricots), some general cereal sweetness. A bit plain but solid and nothing negative. P: 4.75/5 The star of the show. Lots of fruit, oily and thick. A bit of old leather/barn hay/oaky vanilla. A slight bourbon-esque butterscotch sweetness note at the end. Delicious. F: 3.75/5 Long and sultry, very little burn. A bit of something musty which is slightly off putting.

Neat in a Glencairn. The color is light straw with a hint of peach. The aroma is subtle and clean; oak up front with hints of flowers and iodine. The flavor is both more assertive and a bit more complex. At first it seems typically coastal, but this impression is fleeting. There is a honeyed quality followed by oak tannins and, no kidding, Sichuan peppercorns. The finish is long and suggests peat.