Nose - orange blossom, fresh cut flower, honey, peach, almond, powdered sugar, apricot, cocoa, caramel apple, light vanilla, grass, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet oak, mint, lemon, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - orange zest, grapefruit, grass, green apple, salted caramel, sweet floral notes, vanilla, peach, cinnamon, dark chocolate, clove, honey, apricot, bitter oak, spearmint, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with citrus zest, mint, chocolate, and light baking spice flavors. The only Bushmills I’ve experienced is the Original, which was rather mediocre, as expected. Let’s see if some aging significantly improves it. TLDR it does. The nose is beautifully delicate, fruity, and floral. It’s reminiscent of walking through an apple orchard. Crisp fruitiness abounds with sweet honey, malty chocolate, and a light touch of nuttiness. The palate is similar, but the citrus and creamy chocolate notes are accentuated. Some sour grapefruit comes through as well. Interestingly, there’s a sharper bite than I expected. I’m not sure whether it’s an oakiness or a bitter nut note, but there’s a spicy, tannic quality that builds around the mid palate. Overall, this is great stuff. I think the nose is outstanding and the palate is solid, albeit slightly underwhelming. There’s a nice contrast between the delicate aromas and the more robust flavors. It‘s in the same territory as some of the best Irish whiskies I’ve tasted. And at around $200, I think this is priced right for a tasty, well aged whisky. Many thanks to @ContemplativeFox for the sample.