Review #036 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 50% Comments: aged 25 years, matured for twenty years in bourbon hogsheads, this Speyside single malt was combined and filled into custom toasted French oak barriques from Seguin Moreau cooperage, and after three months of intense maturation, was combined and filled into 2nd fill bourbon barrels for another five years Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Was Unable to look for legs due to an apparent water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with. Nose: 18/20 This has a very sweet profile. Vanilla ice cream and warm banana bread stand out most, I can practically taste them! Digging deeper I get walnuts and pears also. This one just invites you to keep nosing it. Palate: 37/40 Wow, wow, wow, where to start!? Its got a very nice, almost silky smooth mouth feel. And there’s a lot of great bold flavors here that all play so well together. Red currants, apricots, buttery pastries, tart white grapes, and a hint of coconut. Finish: 37/40 Nice long and complex finish. It starts out with a quick burst of lemon citrus, then sweet honey which gives way to bourbon, though not in an overpowering way, more like how the taste of bourbon accentuates the overall flavor of a good cocktail. As that fades it’s replaced by the taste of walnuts before ending on a mildly salty note. With Water: A drop of water brings out some melon on the palate and a really nice buttery sweetness on the finish. Total: 92/100 Final thoughts: This is just an incredible dram, refined but explosive in flavor and complexity. I’d been holding out on joining SMWS, but this this pour was the catalyst that inspired me to sign up for a membership. Thanks to my brother @Mark-Watson2 for the sample Price: gifted sample Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.