Note - I'm doing the Really Good Whisky Company Advent Calendar. I've also decided to pour these whiskeys "blind" (or at least as blind as I can), then providing nose, palate, and finish notes. I'll then look at the label, proof, cask type, etc. before writing my other notes. I'll be providing some guesses around things like proof and cask type and then seeing how much I missed the mark. Slàinte Mhath! Nose: Squarely back in Scotland here. Honeyed toasted grains. Fresh green apples and pears. Vanilla, mint, basil, and citrus zest. Getting some solid oak character here - guessing around 15 years? Waffles with nutella, raspberries, and whipped cream. Roasted peanuts. Not terribly proofy, maybe at that classic 46% target? Highland? Maybe with some sherry cask in play? Palate: Opens up with slightly grassy, herbal characteristics. Very quickly joined by orange, vanilla, and cream. Some subtle toasted coconut also kicking around. Single malt? Barrel bite and char. Coffe and leather, along with a little toffe - Almond Roca comes to mind. Black pepper and hot cinnamon. This hits the entire palate pretty evenly, though the "midrange" pokes out a bit. Mouthfeel is squarely medium, with good oil and tannin. Finish: Dark fruits, sweet cream, vanilla. Then mint comes forward, along with some bitter chocolate. Tails off with this swirl of oak, fruit, and vanilla. Medium long length. Other notes: Another fun reveal! It's 12 years - I guessed 15. Proof is 46.3% - I guessed 46%. It's also aged first in ex-bourbon, then in virgin American oak, explaining why I was getting such strong cask influence - also why I was parsing this as having some sherry cask going on. Single malt. From the Isle of Mull, so I got that wrong as well. I've been really pleasantly surprised by what happens when you dial up the oak character on Scotch - the depth it adds is a lot of fun and helps bridge the flavor profile into something a little closer to what I'm familiar with. Well executed, lots of fun. I could definitely recommend at least a glass of this. Cheers!