Initially I was wary of single malt Scotches under $40 in NC because I thought they'd be crap, but I dove head first when it was on sale for $30. Imagine my surprise, this is a superb whiskey. I've had a few single malt and blended Scotches this year (Monkey Shoulder, Dewar's White, JW Black, Chivas 12, Auchentoshan American, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie), and this is better than all of those. It tastes most similar to Glenmorangie 10, but sweeter and less drying on the palate, and $10 less. I get more complexity from the oloroso finishing that I don't get from other flagship single malts. It also has a similar profile to the popular blended Scotches I've had, which makes sense since Tomatin is a mass producer for blenders. I honestly don't understand some of the reviews I've seen for this on whiskey blogs, it is one of the best affordable Scotches I've had. This is really easy to sip and enjoy, and at 86 proof has slightly more punch than most cheap Scotches.