This sample has been waiting for me for some time. I read and heard mixed reviews; some liking, some disliking the varied nature of this spirit. What camp would I fall into? The nose is immediately greeted with a damp straw funk, like straw from a musty barn. That however, gently dissipates to the more staple notes of a Speysider with the likes of green apples, honey and vanilla. A maltiness with cooking spice (allspice?) presents itself in due time. As time progresses, so does the vanilla aromas and a soft sweetness. For me, it conjures up mental images of a countryside on a dank summer’s day. Upon sipping, the palate is sensed with a soft, pillowy texture and immediately start to think that this is going to one of those nice and gentle sweet and fruity drams from Speyside. As you are lured towards that thinking, you will find that you were snared and you are hit from the flank with a blast of spice and heat. This “exhilarating” (maybe too strong of a word) rollercoaster ride then goes from spicy heat, quickly to sweetness of vanilla, honey. You then find yourself going up to a ginger-black pepper spice that eventually winds down to a woody fade, into the finish. That finish is long and warming. Drying and bitter with touches of ginger root and a blast of mint. At the same time, Chardonnay wine notes are detectable: vanilla, oak and white grape. This is a whisky that touches all the bases: sweet, bitter, drying and spicy. Somewhat like a typical 13 year old teenager wanting to be everywhere at once; moving quickly and coming to exhaustive ending. Oh, what an enjoyable ride! [Dry Glass: Grapefruit and honey][88/100][Tasted: 5/26/17][$45]