The nose starts with a mix of dark chocolate covered pretzels, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then figgy pudding, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by grilled peaches, poached pears and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruits and light florals before a mild spice that quickly fades to dark chocolate mocha, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then baked figs, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by raspberries, pear tart and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with sweet orchard fruits that quickly fades to mild black pepper, dark chocolate covered raisins, freshly lit pipe tobacco, seaside rocky minerality, leather bound books and polished mahogany. This is an outstanding sherry bomb that the rich sherry elements are front and center with dark chocolate and red berries that works incredibly well in balance with the Hazelburn spirit creating a fantastic dram that keeps pulling me back after each sip wanting to explore this one further. Anything Springbank seems to be at an outrageous price nowadays, but I managed to find this at a price that I found justifiable. It’s a wonderful whisky that I’m going to share with friends, but if you can’t find it at a reasonable price, I’d just let these sit on the shelf until the liquor store drastically drops the price which is how I managed to get this one and just pick up another option while you wait.