The nose is lively and vibrant, lightly salty with a distinct bacon character, herbal and woody, with hints of sage-infused brown butter. Based on the aroma, you’d expect an intense, savory experience on the tongue — but that would be misleading, because the palate of the whisky spins things in a whole new direction. An initial rush of honey sweetness quickly tempers the upfront savoriness, washing it in notes of pear, melon, and tropical fruits. There’s a saltiness here that develops with time, but when combined with the sweeter elements it gives the whisky a salted caramel note, tinged with a touch of chocolate. The finish is moderately tannic, but this comes across as amaro-esque relief, a little yin and yang to conclude what is a decidedly mysterious but engaging experience. Recommended.