Nose: Oak, mild floral and vanilla notes. Mint, dark cherries and light spices. There is obvious ethanol on the neat nose but a dash of water reduces this. Palate: Hot arrival with wintergreen, clove and aniseed. The spicy arrival fades quickly in the development and the texture is OK but not outstanding. There is a tart cherry note that persists into the finish and a flinty, brittle character throughout. Finish: Medium/short. Spicy cereal and sour cherry. A OK whiskey that has little development. The nose is well balanced but low key, the palate even more so. There is nothing bad here but although it is expressive and well defined (and obviously well crafted) it seemed to me to lack something. The nose was improved by a dash of water, gaining breadth and weight, but the spice notes on the palate were equally expanded by dilution to the point that it lost balance. Overall it was not to my taste and I would not buy a bottle, but that’s just my palate. Over here you can buy 2 bottles of Wild Turkey 86.8 proof bourbon for the price of one bottle of this and still have enough change for a good pub lunch and a schooner of craft IPA. Better deal if you ask me. “Average” : 78/100 (2.75 stars)