Nose: Banana, oak, brown sugar, pencil shavings, cigar box and a little spice. There’s a hefty spirit nip on the nose. When diluted, the nose develops a dusty-corn aroma which is pleasant but it also attenuates the rest of the nose dramatically. Palate: A solid arrival that balances between sweet cereal and bitter oak tannin. Baked banana, peach tart, bitter orange peel, raisins and dried dates on the development which veers towards more intense bitterness over time. Some tobacco notes, cherry cola syrup and black tea, all coming from the cask. Adding a dash of water brings out considerable sweetness to modulate the tannins. Finish: Short. An ethanol grip that settles down into a slightly sour peppery aftertaste. When watered the finish is more gradual and mild, and a slight peppermint note is detected. Not as cloying as Old No.7, and not as easy and candied as Gentleman Jack. There is a tight tannic backbone to this whiskey that certainly gives it character and balance, but that said it’s not much more than an average spirit. I greatly preferred it with just a splash of water – about half a teaspoon. It seemed to offset what is otherwise a rather “raw” palate when neat. Needless to say it plays very well with Coke. The big problem with this in my area is the expense – this usually costs about the same here as a bottle of Lagavulin 16. That’s just wrong. Tasted from a 50ml retail sample. “Average” : 78/100 (2.75 stars)