Abv: 43% Price: $21.99 for 375 mL ($36.99 for 750 mL) at Total Wine in Houston, Texas Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with a fat basset sleeping next to me. Color: Apple juice Nose: Apples, pear, leather, barnyard, cereal, and star jasmine. There are a variety of aromas going on here, as I pick up fruity, grainy, earthy and floral notes. Unfortunately, none of them is particularly alluring. (18/25) Taste: Apples, banana, cereal, wheat, bread, almonds, oranges, and tobacco. The flavors aren’t bad, but it tastes watered down. (39/50) Finish: Very Short. A slightly spicy note with a light alcohol burn. (12/25) Conclusion: I can’t recommend this. I would never turn down a glass, as it is certainly drinkable, but this is about as bland, inoffensive, and unremarkable as it gets for a single malt. I guess that makes it a good gateway to other whisky, and I do remember enjoying this when I was first getting into Scotch. I wouldn’t buy another bottle, however, as one can do better in this price range. 69/100