Nose: Wafts of generic fruit, oak, cereal, etc. but it's not very impressive and is remarkably like the nose of a blended scotch. Palate: The arrival is spicy and sweetish, veering towards heat as it rests in the mouth, and then suddenly blooming with sour harsh malt and bitter coffee. The texture is not noteworthy. Finish: Short. Fleeting malty notes from the late palate compete with sour grains in the aftertaste. If you encounter this as part of a blind tasting I guarantee you'll guess it to be a bottom shelf blended scotch. There is a thin hardness to both the nose and palate and an unwelcome ethanol stain. It is certainly the least characterful or engaging blended malt I've tasted. I'd put it on the same level as Johnnie Walker Red Label (to which it bears something of a resemblance). Even a small dash of water kills the nose but it does, mercifully, soften the palate a little. It's definitely at its best as a mixer with soft drinks, where (just like blended scotch) the hard finish is balanced by the sweetness of cola, lemonade, ginger ale or what have you. My first inclination was to give this 1.5 stars but I'm raising that to 2 based on it's performance as a mixer. However it is neither good value nor worth the official rating of 82. I won't be buying another bottle. (PS - I have a strong suspicion that this is an opportunistic blend and the formula has some elasticity). "Adequate" : 70/100 (2 stars)