For the first few sips, the smokiness overpowers the other flavors. Afterwards, the smokey taste disapears to leave place to a lightly sour blend of fruit flavours. Lacks the oily finish that lets some Svotches leave a great lasting flavor for hours. Decent Scotch, but inferior to the more affordable Bowmore 15, and much inferior to the better ballanced and broader palette of the Ardbeg 10 year.