Rating: 17/23 I recall this being both interesting and quite good. Let's see how it holds up. N: Mellow maltiness with that characteristic buckwheat scent. I get some sweet, lightly chocolatey (a bit like hot cocoa), nutty-oily and smoky earthiness along with fresh grain off of it (the buckwheat scent, essentially), but it avoids smelling chalky. There are perhaps faint notes of nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. It smells young, but full and not harsh. If I get any alcohol, it's only the faintest bit. This is really tame for the proof and age (I imagine) without coming across as weak or flat. Digging deeper, I get a faint hint of floral apricot coming off of the malt, but it is really barely there. Mostly, the nose highlights the blend of grains and it does so nicely. P: It has much the flavor of the nose. I get the nuts, earth, chocolate, spices. I get a bit more cinnamon now. There's actually a faint mustiness that reminds me a little of Westward, though less extreme. There's a bit more of a tartness and bitterness and the oiliness comes out somewhat more. The floral flavor of the apricot is enhanced and brings in some vanilla. There are light minerals, but they're well under control. The new tart-bitter flavor is perhaps a bit loud, but the palate is otherwise very nice. And it's very smooth. The complexity is solid and the balance is great. F: It's a clean and balanced finish. There's a drying element from the bitterness, but it's nothing too strong. The buckwheat comes through, giving this an interesting twist that is a little more savory earthy, but that fits in nicely. I'd be kind of interested to try a peated malt whiskey with buckwheat, actually. This is interesting not only because it showcases buckwheat but also because it has a great balance and solid complexity despite its (presumed) youth. It's actually a very easy sipper. While its youth isn't hidden, it doesn't hold it back. Unlike a lot of Corsair's releases, this doesn't beat you over the head with its profile. Expressions like Mosaic and Wildfire often feel like they're shouting at you a bit, whereas here the buckwheat is very present, but well integrated. This was well worth the $50. It's also not a bad intro for a novice, so I will grant that it's a kind of weird one. Yeah, that's the gist. This is an easy 15. I think an 18 would be really pushing it given the only decent complexity and flavor profile that is a bit more on the interesting side than the actively delicious side. Still, I really enjoy this. I gave a 16 to Westward but a 17 to Amrut Peated and I think that both are very close to this in quality. So it's going to be a 16 or 17. In the end, I think that the mellow richness and moderate complexity here put this closer to the Amrut Peated than to Westward, so I'm going with 17.