Taste- 2 oz with and without water in glen cairn. This is Binnys SiB cask strength pick coming in at 130 proof. 7 years old, barreled in 2015. Nose- honey crisp apples, and cinnamon. There is also some clove and ethanol that moves off quickly. Palate- Wow this is hot! It is a tongue tickler for sure. Once the ethanol clears it is pear, baked apple brown betty, and a bit of lemony citrus. Much tastier with water where the high proof doesnt overwhelm. This is high octane spirit, and not for the faint of heart! Finish- a bit longer and much hotter than you would like as compared to a gentle snifter of sipping brandy. Goes out on a cinnamon red hot candy note. Overall- Cask strength brandy is so different than sipping brandy for me. This is more like a hot apple flavored whiskey. A bit too much of the rough stuff for me to really enjoy. I need water to manage it. That said, when you downproof it, and let it breathe it is a classic cure for the common cold.