Nose: Berries (dark cherries, boysenberries and cranberries), almonds or marzipan and hazelnuts. Vanilla and caramel emerge next along with some spices, featuring cinnamon. Yes, some oakiness, but less than I expected. Palate: A tasty arrival, oily-astringent from oak tannins and mildly spicy. No alcohol burn at all - very smooth, in fact. The development brings a definite hint of tobacco and leather armchair. There's a peppery note and a bready quality - like crusty sourdough dipped in raw olive oil and salt. Yes - a dash of salt and even a little lemon oil. Finish: Medium-long, and fading out on a briny sweet note. A spicy and earthy profile - a great nose and a palate that is just quirky enough to be interesting instead of odd. It's compelling and keeps bringing me back for another taste. Interestingly I didn't notice any great emphasis on the oak - the wood tannins seemed to me to be acting rather as a spice, bringing out more of the other aromas and flavours, instead of just contributing their own flavour. Water changes the profile, muting the berry notes on the nose (which is a real loss) while lifting the oak, which throws it all out of balance a bit. It also puts a sour metallic tang in the finish, so I'd suggest this is best neat. This is another bourbon I'd recommend to fellow Scottish single-malt drinkers. If your opinion is that bourbon is always sickly-sweet and overflowing with syrup and vanilla, then have a dram of this. It will change your mind. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)