Nose: A sharp stab to the olfactory if brought to close to the nostrils but from a distance, you get a very smooth and soft vanilla carmel followed by rolling fruits like apricot, dried mandarin peels and gentle cinnamon. Pallette: Has a lasting but distinct vanilla, mature D'Anjou pear, banana, and apricot fruit blend. General: A lathering smoothness followed by a slowely dissapaiting warmth in the gullet. Has a golden honey color that matches the medium body and balanced flavors and aromas. As a newbie to Japenese whiskeys, it's a damn good one for me.