Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask 15 Year

The color first. Wow, a beautiful, dark Amber, that bordered more on mahogany. Compared with the Caribbean Cask, the color was (quite literally) night and day. Sweet, strong nose that's fruity, and gives me a strong maple smell. The first taste is something else. The fruit comes forward, but as someone who went from Doublewood, to Caribbean Cask, to this, you can sense the alcohol from the get go. Left a tingling sensation throughout my mouth that kept it watering, and kept me thinking about it for minutes afterwards. I wanted to make this last all day. For me, it was almost a perfect sip.

Golden honey color - oily and clings to the glass with slow legs. Earthy and fruity with a bit of bite on the nose. Warm fruit and honey with a bold sherry taste. Long finish.

I really have to assume this is the old first fill, it is certainly the darkest bottle I've seen and purchased in a shop I KNOW doesn't move scotch quickly. Nose - red fruits, dark caramels, and creme brulee. Taste - sherry BOMB. It's figs, plums, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, toasted oak. Finish is oak and raisins and it's slow and long lingering. If you can find this for 115 and it's a super dark bottle, get it. An absolutely must drink of anyone who likes sherry at all.