Balblair 1990 2nd Release

This is one of those hyped legendary bottles I've heard so much about. Finally had a friend send me a sample. I took a few nips...a few too many drinks into a night. So this will be the real test. Nose - Oh we got old sherry oak. Classic dried fruits and figs. Underlying chocolate with a nice fruit chew note. I want to say we've got a touch of a cherry and apple thing going on but very non sweet and not natural flavors. Rich oak for sure. This makes you think about some nice old chest of drawers from your grandparents attic. Taste - classic malt smoothened in decades of oak and sherry. This is so milk balls chocolate dry, clean classic. Spice driven on the finish while hints of milk chocolate and dark fruits all up front. Spicy vanilla in here to. Malt/sweet forward up front, almost too much after the fruity yet drier approach. Wow what a treat, old school well aged sherry. It's a shame these days seem long gone. 4.25 seems fair. Wish it was 48 to give it that final little bump. But wonderful

2015 bottling fantastic stuff ranking with the macallans, Glenfarclas, Glendronach, glengoynes, etc of the Sherry world. Nose: Raisins, Figs, Luxardo Cherries, Dates, Bananas, Almonds, Vanilla, Coconut, Blood Oranges, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Christmas Cakes, Milk Chocolate, Violets, Cranberries, Toffee, Mulled Wine Palate: Raisins, Plums, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, Honey, Toffee, Blood Oranges, Hazlenuts, Walnuts, Cinnamon, Nutmeg Finish: Dates, Prunes, Raisins, Almonds, Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Honey, Morello Cherries

Nose - leather, tobacco, apricot, charred malt, honeyed Palate - tobacco and stone fruits dominate, peppery, silky mouthfeel, Finish - smoldering malt, tobacco, honeydew, honey comb

Good Sherry and tobacco notes. Strong nose and long finish