Long story but this was bought for the purpose of buying bourbon...I'd had it, I wasn't that impressed. nose - so it's light and well interesting. Oak, vanilla, perhaps a cashew, pears, and some barn elements. taste - Now I'm getting some springbank, just this savory unami thing they do so well. Water is a MUST. Water really brings out that sweet wine and really just opens up the flavors. The end result is a fruity sweet, hazelburn that's young, spirited, and not really one that I'll go back to often. The lack of peat on these or whatever really takes away a lot of what makes springbank springbank. These wine casks just leave an almost coyingly sweet dram with just enough savory to make it a fun experience. I'm enjoying it and I'll likely enjoy this whole bottle, it might be my "no regret" springbank to drink when I want CS and the 10 just won't do. Anyway, these are STILL available in places, 10,800 bottles were made. It's a bit over 100 bucks and frankly, it's very good but not great whisky. I think they rushed these and should have left them in the bourbon casks another 3 or so years. I mean really a 9 year? I'm leaning towards a 2.5. It's above average whisky, springbank doesn't do average. But it's below their average by a lot.