Nose: typical scotch malt, honey, and smoke. Not just peat but also some actual wood smoke. Taste: first is the peat smoke followed by medium sweetness. Far more peat flavor than Johnny Walker black. Slightly more than highland park 12 but with less of the fruitiness than Highland. Less mid palate heat than Highland 12. At $18.99 a bottle it may supplant JW black and Highland from my bar. Don’t let the price fool you. Realize this is a Beam Suntory product.