Chivas Regal XV 15 Year Old, Grande Champagne Cognac Cask, 2018, 40%

Honey-glazed apple and ripe peach give the opening a fruit-led sweetness, while cinnamon bark adds a little contrast. The palate stays firmly on the sweet side, with butterscotch and syrup-dressed baked apples, though oak and chocolate ganache bring some variety. The finish is described as medium-long, which gives the ripe pear, vanilla and lingering malt room to register. That malt and the medium spice make the closing stretch more appealing to my taste than sweetness alone would. Still, heavy vanilla and an explicitly sweet finish may feel a little rich for anyone looking for a drier close. Overall, this sounds rounded and approachable, with the finish doing useful work to balance its sweeter notes.