Tastes

The nose offers earthy, umami, and sherry vibes. The palate is quite a journey. Chocolate, umami, oak, stewed pears, and a tannic sherry take you for an elegant ride that hit all the taste receptors as it goes down. The sherry is a bit overpowering though for the price. Also, an unusual sour note of the koji (pear) brings a subtle reminder of sake (koji-fermented 100% barley), and for some it will be a deal-breaker. I can see the high scores from critics, but I know some will not like it. So is it worth it? Tough call. I compared it to the sherried Glendronach CS, and the Glendronach was better, brighter, and more instantly pleasing. But this is for collectors who want something unlike anything they have, something more mystifying, and from that standpoint it succeeds. I don't regret it, and I look forward to how it might change on future sips (I'll update if it gets better or worse).