Really disappointed, my second tasting of FG after a couple of years. Palate: extremely astringent, faint fruit and weak oak...more like a flavoured vodka than a whiskey, very poor. Don't get me wrong I'm a massive believer in budget blended whiskies, but this fails on all fronts, weak flavour profile and no punch whatsoever above the alcohol proof... all you can taste is the ethanol astrigency, similar to a vodka. If you want better quality, bottom shelf budget blends, go with Ballantines, or Bushmills. Very disappointed with FG, expected a better whiskey given the huge rep, tasted at best, on par with Haig Club, which is embarrassing.