Toffee, prunes, figs, dates, and dark, jammy fruits are right up front. The nose is quite dry despite the intensity of the fruit. There is some nice oak hinting at some barrel notes to be discovered underneath all of the sweetness. The palate is significantly brighter than expected, with the dark fruit bringing along some sweet apple and intense spices. The fruit and the spice turns almost leather and tobacco as it lingers, but it always stays just on the side of the fruit. There is a bit of shortbread cookie underneath everything giving some foundation, with the buttery sweetness blending smoothly with the oak still lurking in the background. Subsequent sips found a flaky biscuit right up front before the fruits charged in. The finish is medium with the oak gaining more prominence. Breathing in sharply after swallowing fills your mouth with a beautiful cinnamon and clove apple sugar that is perfectly balanced by the wood. The finish is ultimately an aged, dry oak that has been used as a cutting board for dark fruits over the long years. **After only the initial taste, I think I prefer this to the Redbreast 12yr (also reviewed) as it has quite a lot more to discover. I'd be willing to say that this is an Irish for bourbon drinkers, while the Redbreast is an Irish for Highland Scotch drinkers.**