My father in law was bought a bottle of D12 for his birthday. He opened it a few weeks ago, and a few nights ago (2-Nov 2022) I was present for the bottle kill. My FIL loves this stuff, apparently more than I realised! Luckily he had a back up bottle as well. I add now that the difference between a 95% empty bottle with two weeks lingering at the bottom was not any different to a newly cracked bottle. Good start. N: initially this is weak and flat but time in the glass does benefit greatly. Rich dried fruit and a sharp spritz of bitter orange (marmalade). Oily coffee and nuts with some subtle hints of malt. It needs the time to come through though. P: Creamy thick mouth feel which overtime reveals plenty of caramel and toffee. Coffee bitterness is here along with dark fruits and chocolate. Vibrancy comes from baking spices and a little citrus zest. Despite creamy and vibrant flavours and textures there is a surprising dryness here also that stems from some emergent oakiness. F: Medium. Creamy toffee and slight vanilla enter with the oakiness of the palate. A little warmth high and back in mouth comes through and exits to drying tannic notes. Initially pleasant and straight forward if given a little time to sit. The D12 definitely has some well rounded and solid flavours but they are a little muted and shy. I do wonder why for such an expensive bottle this is released at 40%, just a few points higher at 43% or even 46% and things would undoubtedly lift and enrich. Shame. Whilst this is a classic profile in terms of a sherried whisky, there are additional caramel and toffee notes that add creamy mouthfeel and a different spectrum of sweetness. Stopping sweetness and richness getting to carried away is tannic drying oakiness. Sadly though, for me, the oak notes go a little to far in closing and bring this down just a touch from where I think it should be. Again, higher proof may fix that. I recently had my first Dalmore, the Cigar Malt Reserve. I thought that was decadent and rich and had a little more oomph than this D12. Similarly as simple as the D12 the CMR is objectively better, but its also another ~AUD$75 locally for me. The extra 4% ABV on the CMR is probably the step up you are experiencing over the D12. I wouldn’t actually buy either myself though, they just don’t live up to the cost. Distiller whisky taste #101