Nose: initially all ripe apple. Maybe a hint of maple. As it sat thos dissipate and are replaced by angel food cake and something vegetal. Not peaty, per se, but im guessing thats where the vegetal comes from. Palate: sauteed celery, white cake frosting, earthy, sweet menthol Finish: white pepper, faint juicy fruit gum With water a little sweeter. As it sits in glass the maple returns on the nose. Not nearly as smoky as i remember, or as good. Its not bad at all, but the quality seems to have dipped. I actually prefer the Double Black to this for complexity and intensity of flavor (even though its a blend vs this blended malt). After about five minutes a faint aftertaste of cigarette ash formed on the back of my palate…but otherwise the smoke on this is very subdued.