There are dark spices in the background, but unlike the standard bottling, bright citrus is all around and is most strong on the aroma. Some fresh herb, earthy roots, and juniper are found as well and all work well in concert on the palate. The finish is clean and crisp with some spice and bitterness on the finish. Tanqueray's standard gin is no slouch, but this is the rare occasion, like with The Godfather, where the sequel is even better than the original.