The nose was sweet, candy even, or maple syrup, sherry and even acetone.  This has the signature Irish smoothness and the taste had licorice, fruit and berries, even grape juice, and sweetness.  A nice finish with oak and tannic notes.  I have tried this on a few occasions (once in the The Old Bushmills Inn, in Bushmills, the night before I visted the Old Bushmills Distillery) and the most recent tasting I did to get these notes was not quite what I expected.  I will come back to this one.... didn't change my rating, this is still a solid 3 star whisky, just not quite what I remembered.