Nose - Fruity dark honey, tanned oiled leather, toasted brioche, dark dried stone fruits, grilled pineapple, hint of toasted coconut, grilled peaches. Taste - Fruity/floral dark honey, spiced honey drizzled grilled pineapple/peaches, sweet tobacco, leather, subtle hint of dark stone fruits. Finish - Long lingering sweet leathery/oaky spice, light fruity medicinal sweet, like that of goji berries and longan, lightly drying. Score - 96/100 Final Thoughts - I really really hate to add to the hype of Japanese whisky but this is a very well put together and balanced like their other offerings. This is a very excellent blend of malt & grain whiskies put together in a beautiful bottle and is a fantastic mix of dark and light flavors all in one package. The age shows in this with the darker color, but the heavy oak influence is subdued a bit and the flavors just work together. A nice balance of dark flavors (leather/tobacco/dark fruits) balanced out by light flavors (honey/grilled peaches/pineapple). I'd say this is definitely something best sipped neat without the addition of any water since it's already at a respectable 43% and very well balanced as is.