I'm a fan of Lot 40 but generally for me it's a cocktail whisky. I was excited to pick up this new release and see if it will hold up neat. It's certainly a delicious looking colour! Nose: Lots of vanilla initially. Strong caramel notes here too. I'm also getting a bit of orange peel coming through. Palate: Really rich and full. Nice oily mouth feel. Much smoother than I had anticipated with mild alcohol burn. Slightly burnt French toast is the initial impression with the cinnamon lingering. Anise and black pepper then join the party. Finish: Medium. The best part is the delicious tingling and a minty coolness hanging out at the back of the palate. The black pepper also lingers for some time. I then tried a small taste of regular Lot 40. The Dark Oak is much smoother and richer despite the higher ABV. The mouthfeel is much nicer with Dark Oak as well. Overall I'm very impressed and definitely will enjoy this both neat and in cocktails!