Oh Glenturret, you disappointed me with your previous 30-year release that was bottled at 43.3% ABV and was priced around $400 and now I find myself with a sample of your 2021 30-year old release that was bottled at 41.6% ABV with a staggering price of $1700+ for a bottle. With a price hike like that, you certainly seem confident in this either being some damn fine scotch or perhaps just a well-designed bottle released in a capitalistic attempt in order to expedite the flow of capital from one fool’s pocket into another’s. Let’s open this sample up and find out. The nose starts with a mix of dusty old leather-bound books, mildly sour tropical fruits and toasted marshmallows followed by light florals, mild flinty minerality and dark chocolate covered almonds then fruits of tangerine, caramelized peaches and pineapple that transitions to anise, cardamom, and polished old antique furniture with low ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate bitter spice that quickly fades to dusty old leather-bound books and toasted marshmallow followed by honeysuckle, mild flinty minerality and dark chocolate covered almonds then mildly sour fruits of tangerine, candied lemon and lychee that transitions to light baking spices and mildly bitter black tea with low ethanol burn. The finish is short, starting with creamy tropical fruits along with dusty leather-bound books that fade to light baking spices and mildly bitter black tea. Well, this is certainly a step up from the previous 30-year old release that the well-aged oak notes are dominant but aren’t overpowering the mildly sour citrus fruits and unique spices that are quite enjoyable, although unfortunately thin likely due to that low ABV and could have been exceptional if bottled at a higher proof. Overall, this is an easy sipping and well-aged dram, but I’m not sure why someone would choose this when you could easily just buy a Johnnie Walker Blue at around $250 to get those dusty notes and personally I think the Blue is much better.