Nose: rose with a basket of rich, sweet dried stone fruit underneath: apricot, plum, peach. Vanilla and almond lingers beneath the surface. My friend tasting it with me got a note of salted caramel. Water brings out vanilla, caramel, and sweet cinnamon. Mouth: viscous and rich. Coats the tongue. Initial taste of vanilla. Gives way to dried fruit, peach, and roasted nuts. Towards the middle/back of the mouth, the pot still spices expand into some mild heat. Finish: despite the pot still spices, it goes down smoothly. Finish lingers forever and pleasantly. Great whisky! One of my favorites. In the realm of yamazaki 18, pappy 20, and laphroaig 25 for me.