Nose: A malty heart! Stewed apples, red and green grapes, caramel, oak barrels, wood shavings. Rhubarb, nutmeg, raisins, pollin, vanilla and a touch of pepper.
Palate: Like the nose, big on the maltiness. Bran, nutmeg, stewed apples, Brazil Nuts, marzipan, coffee tannins, Pepper. Manuka honey, sparkling Pinot Noir. Water adds nouget and macadamias. Medium bodied and nicely balanced.
Finish: Marzipan, Brazil Nuts, nouget, pepper, oak tannins, cacao paste, red grapes, peanut butter. With water longer, more tangy, some sweet spice then fades on vanilla, nouget, creamy nuts & cool mints.
Last Word: Love it that Mars did not skimp and released this first bottling from the new distillery at cask strength. Great entry into the whisky scene and can’t see too many people not being satisfied.

Rating: 89/100