For someone who is largely a bourbon drinker this just comes across is totally different. First of all the color is a pale straw. I was surprised how much the nose hits me a foot away from the glass as pale as it is! It may just be a mental association between the pale color and apple juice but that is absolutely the first thing to hit my nose. Bringing it a little closer I almost get an Apple cider vinegar. There is also quite a bit of sweet malt, something like I would expect from an Irish whiskey. Sniffing and I seem to pick up something like new oak. I don’t get much in the way of anything nutty, earthy or spicy. The pallet has a tingle of a burn but is largely overwhelmed by malty sweetness. Mouth feel is pretty thin and the finish the short and dry. Now back at the nose I wonder if I pick up a little bit of heather and honey, but I could just totally making this up. The second sip is smoother, with a little bit more of the honey sweetness coming across as well as maybe raisins or dried fruit. I don’t get much in the way of oak the first few sips but as I continue to drink on I feel like towards the end of the pallet maybe I pick up the Japanese oak? Do I enjoy it? Absolutely! Would I jump up and shout “this is Japanese!” Doubtful. Regardless I will enjoy finishing this bottle.