Bushmills 16 Year Single Malt

One of my favorites

color: dark gold/copper nose: chalky, pungent, winy (sherry), dark fruit, citrus? with water: vanilla, cinnamon, cotton candy, new wood, coffee palate: raisins, oak, red fruits (berries), some pepper finish: somewhat hot after wanting to try this for years and loving the 10 year, I had high hopes. it came off a bit... thin. no idea if that's due to the triple distillation, 40% ABV, or being spoiled on scotch. perhaps earlier in my journey, I would have been more impressed. water also destroys this whiskey, although the nose did improve. in my "mental map", I put it in the same category as Glen Garioch 12, Haig Dimple Pinch, and, of course, their other expressions. ended up paying $91 after taxes, which also influences my score. yet another reason to have purchased before the price increase!