Kavalan 2010 6 year Sherry Cask (The Whisky Exchange Exclusive)

If you get the words "Kavalan" "Cask strength" "sherry cask" in the same label, you already know it is going to be a very good thing. This exclusive edition was bottled for "The Whisky Exchange" retailers. The expression i had was bottled in 2016 at 57.8%abv. The color on this is simply impressive. Mahogany, a color mostly seen in whisky textbooks. Very dark reddish stuff. On the nose, the aroma is simply perfect. Coffee, cherries, prunes, figs and blackberry marmalade. A Cognac overall feeling, smells like macerated fruits and a hint of hazelnut. You get the idea. The palate is fantastic as well. Starts with a macerated fruit flavor, with pepper. Dark and dehydrated fruits; very winey with Chocolate notes also present. Aftertaste is strong, powerful but enjoyable and rewarding. Blackberries and pepper. Long incredible but straightforward aftertaste. Overall this is an amazing single malt that i feel very lucky to have tasted. Everything here is made for a whisky lover, starting from the natural color of it. The aftertaste wasn't as complex as the rest of the criterias, and that is why this one doesn't get a perfect score, but as they say in Football, "it hit the post!". My score for it is 97 over 100.

Reminds me a fair bit of the Balcones Single Malt Rum finish although not as artificial. Needed a fair few drops of water to tone it down. Sweet slightly artificial cherry and sherry. Despite those descriptors not as bad as the BSMR. Better developed, integrated. Vaguely Aberlour Abunadhish but without the true sherry, rich cherry notes 3 star