Nose: Toasted cereal, buttered toast, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, vanilla, panettone, baked banana. There's a tiny ashy hint. Adding a drop of water brings out a little oak aroma but it mutes the nose too much. Palate: Rich, creamy, silken arrival. Milk chocolate, creme caramel, coconut, nutmeg, butter, caramel, savoiardi biscuits and some light oaky notes. The addition of water unleashes several types of honey and more varieties of cereal. Finish: Medium. Mildly spicy with grainy mocha flavours. There is an interesting segue to fruitiness as it fades, and a delightful lingering sweetness. This is a good whisky, and together with the Coffey Grain from Nikka it's a duet that you need to hear. The nose and palate are cereal driven, with hints of every type of grain and baked product you can imagine, and the mouth-feel is very good. The fruit part of the character is subtle and it's not about bright citrus. It's warmer, heavier and oilier and integrated with the cereal profile. Think banana bread, walnut loaf or avocado mashed on whole grain toast. If adding water do so carefully, just a couple of drops at a time. This whisky is fine neat, but water brings out notes that are just as nice. However as much as it loves water, this whisky can't swim to save itself and you can ruin a wonderful experience very easily. Don't even think about putting it anywhere near ice or mixers. Delightful, and arguably the best value Japanese whisky that you can still obtain fairly easily. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)