A very pale honey color; appears oily on the inside of the glass when you take it for a walk. Nose is sulphurics at first: vegetal, like broccoli water. Then it eases into something akin to freshly-made applesauce with the skins still in it. Buttery cream and vanilla. Just a hint of lemon drop at the end. The taste is a combination of that buttery cream and vanilla frosting, followed up quickly by bitter,  citric lemon. The lemon adds a double-whammy work the barrel tannins, which add a not-insignificant pucker. A surprising amount of heat goes the distance at only 86-proof. A lot of clove when you give it a chew. When you add an ice cube, the vanilla blooms and blunts all the harsher stuff. The citric bite remains, but the tannins soften. Recommended. The finish is metallic, like sticking your tongue to a metal flag pole. ('Tis the season.) A good amount of dark chocolate and coffee grounds follow. There is a mild barrel char that resonates as a kind of plum/date character. Sawdust at the very tail end. I'd have to say the Tyrconnell is slightly overpriced at $40, but it's very solid and quite pleasant.