Nose: Apple, pear, soft orange notes. There’s a delicate, sweet floral presence like honeysuckle and a background aroma of malted cereal. The balance between the malt and grain whiskies is very well done. Palate: Sweet mild arrival with orchard fruits, a touch of orange oil and a hint of ginger. The development is slight and does not present a great deal more, apart from some vanilla and oak from the barrels. There is a trace of ashy smoke on the palate that you don’t notice on the nose, but it is very reserved at first, and towards the finish a mild tannic bitterness shows up. The texture is a little creamy with a silky quality – that’s the grain whisky speaking. Finish: Medium. Tart green apple, kiwifruit, mint and marzipan. This is a “big” whisky for a blended scotch, and it’s significantly superior to standard J&B scotch. There is an unmistakable family resemblance so the recipe is similar, but the components used here are much more refined and show 15 years of maturation in reasonable barrels. The nose is fresh, crisp and has good body and a pleasant character with no intrusive ethanol. The palate is eminently quaffable and with subsequent sips you notice the smoky background notes more and more. The finish is moderate, but surprisingly longer than expected, and several tart flavours come forward in the aftertaste. These are not unpleasant, however, and provide agreeable balance. It’s not a particularly complex whisky and may be a disappointment to those who favour big, bold single-malt drams. However it more than holds its own against other premium price blends such as Dewars 18, Old Parr 18 and so on. I found myself reaching for this more than I expected and with a splash of soda water it’s a satisfying and relaxing late-night dram. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25)