N: Berries, peaches, cereal grain. Pretty boozy. Opens up after a few minutes with dried berries and red fruit, chalk, and maybe a dash of sea air and brine. Peach notes shift toward a nice barbecued peach brushed with melted brown sugar. The cereal grains come back with a candied sweetness that borders on kids' cereal, but never quite turns that corner and manages to stay grown up. Much later, I notice some rye notes - mint, menthol, green rye. P: Rich, chalky, mineral cereal grains. Dried red fruit, prunes, and raisins. Tons of baking spice and pepper heat. Texture and mouthfeel is almost chewy. Some vanilla and light almond extract in the middle with a cookie flour backbone. Finish is more baking spice, wafer cookie, and lots of chili pepper and boozy heat. I've always wanted a higher proof Johnnie and finally here it is. But this is also the least Johnnie Johnnie I've had yet. I mean, is there even any Cardhu in this? It feels like a higher grain content than most JW offerings. On the whole, I enjoyed this as a one-off, but I'm not going to miss it when it's gone. Would love to see/try a regular release of Blue at cask strength. JW/Diageo is leaving money on the table by not offering that. _______ Please come join a lively new spirits related discussion happening in real time amongst a bunch of regular Distiller reviewers: https://discord.gg/crpksjtkMu.