Nose: Pine resin, caramel, toffee, fruits (baked apples or pears), cinnamon, leather, but above all - wood! Many woody notes - oak, sandalwood, cedarwood, pine, maple, charred barrel, even some campfire in the dim distance. Some nuttiness as well (another sort of wood aroma) - peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds. Palate: A sharp but sweet arrival that settles into a fruity and spicy development (the official tasting notes here are spot-on: leather and orange, yes, peppercorn, vanilla, yes, cinnamon, absolutely). There's also orange oil and cloves, walnuts and peanuts. Finish: Fairly long, spicy, fading to a nutty and mildly astringent finale with dark chocolate and black coffee dominating. This is a very cask-driven expression - I'm surprised it's not more frequently commented on. There is something very personally evocative about this whisky for me because it fills my senses with the aromas associated with my grandfather's cabinetry workshop. At 53.5% it's a moderately high abv, and every time I pour a dram I get an initial strong ethanol hit on the nose. Let it rest for 5 minutes in the glass before tasting and it will be more balanced, and quite captivating. It is approachable neat, but I'd also recommend a teaspoon of water if you find it all too intense and spicy. I like this a lot - in many ways more than Booker's. Although that whisky is arguably more complex and ultimately rewarding, this one has an approachable charm and I love the emphatic cask-driven character. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)