Nose is mild, malt, oak, butter, golden delicious apples. Palate arrives mildly sweet with a slight grain burn; delicate balance of oak, malt, vanilla, and grain. Finish is moderately long. Reminds me of Dewars 15 or Chivas 18 but a touch spicier, livelier. All told, a great blended whisky, but might still get Monkey Shoulder over this. I can only imagine what my host paid for it!