This is from a recent Connoisseurs Choice bottling.
On the nose it's clear, clean malt. There's hay and cut grass. It's light. Wait a while and there's an unexpected twist of strawberries and cream. A touch of baked apple perhaps. Some tropical fruit but reserved really. After a little bit more the aroma of cheap advent calendar chocolate and tinned condensed milk shine through.
The palate is a parade of malt, spice then cream and butter. There's a slight oiliness to it but not too much - it's all too delicately balanced. Again, a thread of smoke that links. And that strawberry and cream nose coming through as flavour at the end, when everything else has had enough of itself.
There's a tangy bitterness on the finish. It's a youthful dog, not exactly sprite but neither placid either. There's a touch of a salty edge but again it's all about balance. Nothing here pokes it's head too far out. Everything is well crafted. Everything in it's place. Everything well balanced. Not like a Japanese or Swedish malt where this is it's intended destination. More like a fruit picked from the tree as opposed to one that falls. You feel it has the legs to go that extra ageing. As if the casks have yet to fully reveal themselves. Possibly too polite. It's great where it is but this is not it's final stop. But where it is is great. Enjoy.
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