The nose starts with a Twix candy bar dunked in a glass of sherry then buttermilk biscuits topped with heavily peppered gravy followed by toasted walnuts, fruits of freeze dried grapes, baked apple, and orange creamsicle that transitions to cloves, light leather and polished oak with light ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with creamy butterscotch pudding and stewed orchard fruits before quickly veering towards a medium spicy dark chocolate mocha that slowly fades to toasted walnuts, fruits of prunes, baked apple pie, and orange zest that transition to cloves, light leather and moderate ashy oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with dark chocolate, musty grape, grapefruit, burnt walnuts, mild sulfur, cloves and lightly ashy oak. This is a very enjoyable whisky that managed to combine those sherry and bourbon casks well, but is slightly spicier on the palate than I’d prefer and the 40% ABV thins those fruity flavors. I like this a lot more than the other French whisky I’ve tried from Brenne and think with a higher ABV and some age this can be something incredible. A huge thank you to @Richard-ModernDrinking for the generous sample.