Impressions @ new bottle: @Richard-ModernDrinking cutting to the chase, this feels like an older version of Quarter Cask, with a short finishing stint in a sherry cask. Here are my notes: Starting with the appearance, this is certainly the brownest whisky I've had with the liquid almost resembling a kind of watered down cola or root beer. While I've learned not to judge a dram by its looks, I can't help but think of the disappointing 2020 Cairdeas, and the pinkish hue that foreshadowed the jarring imbalance of flavor contained therein. The initial aromas were heavy with old leather, but a nice sherry note emerged and it began to resemble a better integrated, slightly muted version of the 2020 Cairdeas. The iconic Laphroaig nose, often described as 'beach bonfire', offered greater maturity and development than the 10 year age statement might suggest, and it generally mingled nicely with the sherry. However, some sharp burned tire notes emerged when the surface was disturbed by my sipping. The burned tire notes were initially prominent on the palate, and at first, this tasted a touch sharp and out of balance. However, things transitioned quickly to the standard panoply of classic Laphroaig flavors (smoke, bandaids, iodine, etc.), with much emphasis on the iodine and bandaids, and thankfully, the sherry didn't try to out-shout the smoke and brine notes the way the red wine and port did in the 2020 Cairdeas. This allowed for a far more satisfying finish than the aforementioned, and it was almost indistinguishable from some batches of CS with perhaps added bias to the sherry (though, that could simply be the power of suggestion). Occasionally, a metallic off-note note appeared on the finish, but I get the sense that this will be one of many aspects that improves with oxidation. I love Laphroaig, but I can't quite see the value in this at $90. The CS has always set such a high mark for me, and it's generally about 18% cheaper in my area.