Nose: Very rich and featuring malt, apples, oak and gingery spice. There's a waxy character that adds depth and texture. Palate: Full and assured arrival with fruity and mixed spice notes. The arrival blooms seamlessly into the development as more fruit notes (particularly orange) emerge to balance a cavalcade of warm, exotic spice - clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. However the palate is no explosion or cheap thrill. Everything is poised and perfectly balanced. Finish: Medium. Very satisfying - fruit and spice nuances roll on and on into the aftertaste. This is arguably the best of the standard core-range Compass Box whiskies. One of the most complex and sophisticated blends I've tasted in its price range - it wipes the floor with just about every other blended whisky and I'd even have a bottle of this in preference to many single malts at the same price. Terrific value, and an education in a glass. I've been tasting several blends over the last fortnight with some mates, and the one thing we all noticed was how refreshing and "clean" all the Compass Box whiskies are. In comparison, most blends strive for a house style that is heavy and rich, and they achieve that goal with varying success. Compass Box is one of the few that prefer a clean and uncluttered style using a few premium components combined with precision. When you also factor in the very reasonable asking price this whisky represents remarkable value. "Very Good" : 85/100 (4 stars)