The nose has a bit of sharp fruit mixed with lots of alcohol and some bright wood. There's just the tiniest hint of chocolate and maybe coffee on the nose. It smells a bit herbal like Belle Meade Cask Strength but more organic. There's a bit of bright apple and rye nose as well. The palate is surprisingly light and sweet with some interesting herbal presence and some floral fruitiness. There are some nice orange blossom notes that are actually quite like tangerine. It's sweet with lots of vanilla. This is a shockingly smooth drink. It's also interesting in how it's light but balanced. It doesn't have that brash young taste, but it certainly isn't old. The balance is quite good and the proof really sneaks by. This is super tasty and easy to sip, though it isn't your traditional bourbon flavor. The mineral really isn't overwhelming and it doesn't taste excessively like rye. It lacks the robust presence of Wild Turkey Jewbillee, but it has some delightful balance that reminds me of Macallan 15. With water, some more wood and spice come out. The fruit and floral flavors really balance it. Why doesn't Irish whiskey taste more like this? One one hand, I'd love to taste a more mature version of this whiskey. On the other hand, it's quite good as is in large part due to its terrific balance. Aging it longer might result in the wood overwhelming the other flavors.