Nose: Reasonably clean, an initial alcohol presence but fades extremely quickly. There is a few forms of orange sending out signals: tangy orange powder, orange sherbet, and dry peel falling to very suggestive passion fruit and/or pomegranate. Then in no particular order a mixture of dry weak sherry, leather, and corduroy (pants/jackets). A little creamy I might add.
 
Taste: Clean, smooth, and very acceptable. It is however, a tad on the watery side. Moderate clean spice on the palate with minimal cigar leaf, and a hint - and I do mean a hint of licorice. The spice is pretty consistent really - becomes tamer gradually, it mingles with bitterness: non-sweetened bitter chocolate, old peel, and leather.
 
Finish: Short - moderate and a bit watery with peppered bean shoots. Bitter chocolate from here on with grapefruit peel.
 
Comment: Great cost performance, better than its sibling (Nikka Clear) but it tends to go a bit pear shaped at certain intervals - well something transforms after awhile anyway. I've dabbled in using this blend in a highball (might make the purists look away - but perfectly ok), which I must say is quite nice. Again, reasonably pleasant as is (it will be good between malts to refresh your palate) but I can see myself mixing this on more occasions than drinking it straight. Despite the tiny downfalls I will have this in my cabinet at hand often over summer. In short its not bad - as you can tell by my consumption, and that alone I think allows me to give it the Whiskies R Us (my personal liking) seal of approval.