The nose is just alcohol. The honeyed apricot sweetness is nice. It reminds me of Bushmill's 21 but much stronger. There is a bit of stale bread, bit it isn't too bad. There is a bit of richness hanging out in the back, but it's just enough to make the drink a bit nuttier. There is some spice and the alcohol is a bit noticeable, but the flavor is still good. It's not extraordinarily complex, but it is quite good in terms of general flavor. The individual flavors are great and there is no masking of them in here. The flavors are quite good, but a bit mild and not terribly complex. It's kind of light tasting. It has a some mineral and gross bread mixed with honey, smoke, and some peat. It's actually a good balance that ties some elements that aren't usually all that great together. The complexity is nice and it has a good amount of character. This is the most successful gross bread flavor I've ever encountered. There are hints of pear and orange blossom too that are quite lovely and there is some nice salty sea spray and a surprisingly harsh (but still quite moderate) spice. The spice is more peppery (a mix of white herbalness and black richness) than cinnamony. There is some cask in here, but not a tremendous amount for a 17 year old drink. It sure isn't a wussy drink, despite its mild flavors. Valkyrie would have been a great name for this one. This is really a delightful drink, but it is not mind-blowing and is not worth the high price. For $100, it might be worth buying.