Grain whisky is often dismissed, but with patience some great refill casks can be found, showcasing the subtleties of good grain spirit aged for a long time without too much wood influence and letting the spirit speak. At the nose we have mint, wood polish, vanilla, and old books. It’s a dry, clean profile, with none of the fatness that would have come from more active wood. The same cleanliness and dry, subtle style is evident on the palate, too. It starts very soft, velvety and with wafer notes, and then it’s a big crescendo of pepper before turning into a very aromatic experience with medicinal herbs of every kind, especially gentian root and black liquorice. The finale is increasingly tannic, but pure and elegant.