Update 2May 2024 I retasted this yesterday at the distillery and made identical notes to my original post here (see below) so there is no need to change anything, apart from the fact that I noted even more vanilla than before. This is a good malt for the price and one that should not be underestimated. I’m upgrading my rating slightly. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars) ————————————————— Nose: Pear drops, apple, lemon, vanilla, malt and floral honey. There is a density and weight to the nose with hints of an aroma that is intriguing and reminiscent of lanoline. Palate: Soft malt and fruit. Creamy, almost buttery (butterscotch?) in the development with lemongrass, hazelnut, caramel and a good deal of sweet vanilla. It’s a very easy palate with good texture. There is a little hot ginger towards the finish. Finish: Medium. Fruity resolving to sweet earthy malt with citrus overtones. On the one hand this might seem a typically light, fruity Speysider, however there is a depth of profile to both the nose and palate that is less typical. While there are certainly fruity notes in abundance here this is fundamentally a malty profile, and it has much in common with Glen Grant. I hesitate to use the terms “gateway” or “beginner” in reference to any malt as it seems dismissive, implying that easy whisky is best reserved for serving to inexperienced palates. This is unfair as a less challenging whisky can be just as pleasant in the right context as any Mortlach or Springbank. That said, this is a comparatively straightforward expression that focuses on warm, soothing aromas and flavours. The character is generally soft but there is a slight spicy heat in the later palate. A good quaffing whisky that also works as a mixer, where the sweet vanilla and floral tones are highlighted and the spice edge cuts through. So yes, I would offer this to a novice … not because it is simple but because it is approachable and good. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)