Another one of my choices for this month's whiskey club! Nose: Old leather, strawberries, brown paper bags? Subtle smoke, like the smoke from the coals of a campfire the morning after. Black pepper, beef jerky made with a sweet brine, and some wet moss. Fresh cracked pepper, raisin cake, somehow reminds me of Sichuan pepper. Palate: Tingly and sweet. A small bit of peppercorn kick, charred oak and sawdust. creamy vanilla with smoke and brine. Small amounts of other muddled spices, light floral-ish peat smoke (if that's a thing), and ever so slightly medicinal. Finish: Medium-long. Lots of oak, vanilla cream, and even some earthy greens. The peat lingers for quite a while. Conclusion: I'm pleasantly surprised by this! I didn't know what to expect from a cheaper Japanese blend, but this is actually really enjoyable. One of those whiskies that changes with every sip. It's a great example of a lightly peated whiskey in which you can easily pick apart the different components without that big blast of smoke. I love peat, but it can be hard to pick a peaty one for my whiskey club because I don't want to overwhelm anyone - this was a great choice though!