Nose

Vanilla fudge, caramel, honey, and warming dry peat smoke are the first to arrive. Gentle spices sit in the background with the sweet fruity smell of raisins and the delicious baking flavours of glazed danish pastries rounding it all out.

Taste

My goodness that is a soft delivery. There is a rich toffee silkiness and soft vanilla ice cream set of opening flavours and texture. It is joined by a gentle wood and peat smoke balance. It has a real dessert feel with crème caramels, honey, and milk chocolate all springing to mind. Not that it’s all sweetness and dairy-like. There’s a really gradual build of peppery oak spices. Some soft and sweet fruit notes in there like ripe peaches and some red berries, plus some toffee apples. The Danish pastry note is there again with the little raisin fruitiness and a vanilla custard filling.

Finish

Well yes… you won’t be surprised to see that this very “smooth”. Almost ice-cream like. It leaves a soft lingering oak spice and peat smoke trailing behind.

Verdict

If you want smooth… you got it.

The softness on the palate and finish is just so… soft. Remarkably so. The age of the contents must play heavily on the oily mouth coating feel of the whiskey – something that I’ve certainly experienced with old grain whiskies. The fact that it is bottled at 40% ABV (ie the least alcohol content possible to still be called whisky) also means it is a less challenging sip.

That said, it has a decent body and depth without really leaving any leading or resounding signature notes – it’s more about the amalgam sensations and that signature Johnnie Walker touch of smoke – which l guess, is the beauty of blending.