It smells a lot like alcohol, but I guess that's the expectation at this ABV. It's astoundingly smooth with sweetness quite present but hiding behind a ton of smoke and a lot of peat. There is a bit of spice, but especially given the ABV 5his drink deserves a commendation for its incredible smoothness. It's sort of like nectar with a lot of vanilla. There is a bit of salt, but isn't really brine. The flavor is rich and the drink tastes quite aged, though not to the extent of something like Delord 30. The aged flavor is nice, but like Delord 30, it lacks the complexity that I really want in an old drink. The flavors blend together, but rather than being muddled they marry well and provide a consistently nice richness (though there is not as much complexity as I would like). It has that smoothness of Blanton's that makes it interesting, but does not qualify it as a daily drinker. Dark Origins is a bit more complex, but it doesn't have as elegant of flavors. It's good, but it isn't that jaw-dropping masterpiece that would be expected in the $200+ range. It reminds me Glenfarclas 25, but sweeter and a bit less complex. The nose is sweet, fruity, and rich. The palate has minerals leaping out and is backed by a surprisingly rich woodiness. The red fruit sweetness is delightful. It might be a bit on the spicy side, but it's within the reasonable range. There is plenty of smoke and also some peat but the balance is nice with the smoke winning out. There is a definitive saltiness present here that makes sense for Highland Park but that I am not a big fan of. The sweetness adds a fun playful element. The bitterness could be construed as some milk chocolate mixed with tobacco and maybe some coffee beans on the finish. It's good, but not really what I want. I'd be thrilled to get to drink something with this complexity and number of distinct flavors at a party, but I wouldn't pay for a whole bottle. This is subtle with plenty of dark fruit, minerals, peat, smoke, vanilla, wood, caramel, etc. There's a lot going on, but it's too mild in my book. I would be delighted to drink it, but it costs twice what Highland Park 18 does and I like it a bit less.