TLDR: Light and hollow without much going on beyond the Sherry pop The nose seems strangely empty with only light notes of 'warm wood' which I imagine is the Sherry Cask and a sharper astringent edge. This might as well be 'anything' - it manages to be smooth and inoffensive on the tongue but lacks any real flavor punch beyond the sherry and I struggle to believe that it was in a cask for 8 years. The pale straw color only enforcing this feeling. I get almost nothing on the finish with zero peeking out in the back of the mouth or palate. My understanding is this is effectively barrel aged shochu (Mashbill: 100% Rice) and maybe it's just not going to be to my taste in Whiskey. I'm sad I paid $70 for this bottle.