Nose: Mild cereal and malt aromas with vanilla and pear notes. There is an ethanol presence but it’s not off-putting. Palate: A little hot on the arrival and you taste the nip of ethanol. Barley sugar and orchard fruits but the palate is very light and has a dash of vanilla sweetness. I didn't detect any smoke or peat - I feel that anything resembling that is more likely a tannic character imparted by old refill casks. Finish: Short, with a tinge of hard and bitter notes in the aftertaste, most likely from very young, pedestrian-grade grain whisky matured in tired old casks (a fault which is shared by most of the lower-tier blended scotches). Not a particularly interesting whisky but not unpleasant either. It’s an acceptable workhorse but don’t expect too much from what is one of the more affordable blended scotches. Water brings out a sweetness on the palate and as a mixer it adds a slightly sweet, cereal, vanilla and fruity background. A dash of water brings out a little sweetness on the palate. As a mixer it adds a slightly sweet, cereal, vanilla and fruity background. Not too bad on the whole, considering the price point, but it is up against some stiff competition, not the least from stablemate blended scotch Ballantines 12 Year Old, which is very much cut from the same cloth but ramps everything up a couple of notches. There is not a lot of difference in price so if you can find the 12 year old on special it is better value for money. “Adequate” : 73/100 (2.25 stars)