Nose: Notes of nutty Amontillado sherry and black olives. Beautiful notes of unctuous barley malt, prune pepper and caramel.
Palate: Rich, malty palate with plenty of oak grip. Juicy, fruity and slightly tannic. After a time, the vermouth becomes more prominent, and begins to offer up aromatic wood notes, as well as hint of potpourri and citrus.
Finish: Long, fruity finish with notes of barley wine on the tail.
Overall: This does well to allow the whisky to lead with added nuance from the intensity of the bitters and the herbal richness of the vermouth.