The nose doesn't have a ton going on. There's some smoke and a bit of grain, but nothing that stands out too much. The palate has plenty of smoke, but also some fruit and a substantial amount of malt. This is very rich for a Japanese whiskey, though it remains subtle. It reminds me of Johnnie Walker Green. I love the richness, though I wish that some other flavors stood out more. I'd say it's a bit better than Yame Eight Goddess, though not tremendously so. There's a bit of sweetness, but really this is a rich whiskey. It balances some spice and a bit of umami too. It's dry good, though it lacks that punch that I often like to see. At $75, this is a solid buy, especially at 51.4%.