It smells kind of bland, but it tastes unique. There is a lot of alcohol, but it is also shockingly herbal. That bitter herbal bite is rough. There is some stale bread and there is also a lot of alcohol. It's extremely rich with a nice smokey backing. Don't count out the peat either. Mostly, it tastes quite old, which is nice and also surprising in its aggressiveness for Highland Park. There is plenty of sweetness, but it doesn't overtake the rich, aged flavor. There's a hint of apple, but it isn't too strong. There isn't as much depth and complexity as I would like, but evaluated as an aged whiskey, this is good. Despite the stale bread, I'd be happy to drink this.