Perfectly balanced as all things should be... Seriously, I've never had a whiskey balance sweet/salty/smoke/fruity/dry/floral like Nikka from the Barrel. I haven't had the honor of tasting much Japanese whiskey, but compared to what I've had, Nikka FTB is a delight. Backstory: I was looking for an "end of school" celebration bottle. I arrived at Total Wine and found Nikka from the Barrel and Hibiki Harmony sitting on the shelf next to each other. Two rare blended whiskies from two of the most prestigious Japanese distilleries on the same shelf at the same time.... Lucky me right? I heard great things about both, but I only had enough in my budget for one of them. With much deliberation, I walked away with the Nikka. Why? I was attracted to the simplicity of the bottle, the higher ABV, and I felt that the extra $5 for Hibiki was more of an upcharge for hype and the fancy bottle design. The nose is varied with caramel sweetness, vanilla, some floral notes, and leather. The taste was even better! Rich honey, black cherries, some lighter fruits, oakiness, and a tinge of peat and brine. Every subsequent taste brought forth something new as each flavor took a turn on the palate. Now I just want to try everything from Nikka! For those who love Hibiki Harmony, no worries! I still want to try it too. Buuuut if I'm being honest, I feel no FOMO for not grabbing the Hibiki because I'm really REALLY enjoying Nikka from the Barrel right now. *Side note: I don't like the short neck of the bottle. If I don't pour it fast into my glass, it always seems to spill. *Sigh* I just hate wasting good whiskey...