Nose: Fragrant floral herbs, vanilla, peach, green apple. Nose deeply and there’s hints of lemon zest and oak, and if you add a small dash of water the citrus and wood notes amplify. Palate: Pillowy, creamy arrival entirely focused on soft cereal and sweet malt. The mouth-feel is arguably the best part of this whisky. The development does not bring a great deal more forward apart from some toffee and mocha. However, none of that is a fault - the palate is reserved and narrow, but good. There is an elusive note of tobacco in the background. Adding water brings out more sweetness, makes the texture buttery, and the whisky becomes highly quaffable. Finish: Short. Gristy cereal and a little honey with a touch of ginger and nutmeg (soft tannins), but it remains very easy and friendly right through to the aftertaste. There is a very slight bitter note when neat, but that disappears when it's watered. This has a lighter, more delicate nose than I was expecting but it never seemed to really open up. The palate follows suit and although pleasant I kept wondering if more would emerge. It didn’t. It’s an obviously young and not particularly complex whisky and I had the definite feeling that the grain components hold it back. I’d love to taste a blended malt made from just the malt whiskies in this, and I’d also love to taste this as the base of a highball – I have a feeling that’s its real arena. Many thanks to @DrRHCMadden for the generous tasting sample. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)