Nose: Sweet barley takes the lead here with some apple and pear notes. The smell almost has a thick texture to it that makes me think of honey. There is some bright white pepper and a bit of oaky dryness. Really a nice sweet barley-forward nose. ⠀ Taste: A somewhat complex mix of notes that starts out with the some malty sweetness, but ventures more into a tart fruity sweetness. Not so much berry fruits, but maybe more citric and bold on the tongue. Quite strong notes of spicy pepper here and certainly some astringency. Think of fruit, pepper, moderate tannins, and a little bit if earthy smoke. It took a moment to appreciate the taste as it wasn't what i was expecting after the nose. ⠀ ⠀ The texture of the whiskey feels somewhat thick on the tongue and seems a little oily, but fades away somewhat quickly into a dry and somewhat hot medium finish. As the heat fades, I seem to get some allspice and other bright baking spice notes emerging here and there. ⠀ ⠀ This is an interesting whisky and I think it offers a lot at the 12 year mark. It's not as refined and rich as an older highland malt might be, but it has a lot of character and I enjoyed trying it. I might pick up a bottle in the future. Due to its spiciness, I think it drinks hotter than the average 43% highland scotch, but sometimes that is favorable.