The nose is soft and subtle with a mild richness that starts with caramelized mangos, baked figs and dusty old wine cellar then mild pipe smoke, light ocean brine and shortbread cookies followed by red wine poached pears, blackberries and tangerines that transitions to mild baking spices and antique polished mahogany with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium yet creamy mouthfeel starting mildly sweet yet slightly sour with caramelized mangos, cherries jubilee and slightly tart blackberries followed by espresso, mild pipe tobacco, light barley field farmyard funk and seaside rocky minerality followed by pear tart, figgy pudding and baked orange that transitions to mild baking spices and polished mahogany with low ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting sweet with creamy tropical fruits and cherries jubilee before veering into mild smoke, seaside minerality, light baking spices and dusty old wine cellar. This is an exceptional dram that those long years in the ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks have polished any youthful astringency out and replaced it with creamy tropical fruits and musty old cellar. The balance is superb with everything working in harmony but the flavors aren’t quite as rich and robust as I’d hoped. A stunning and complex dram that rewards slow contemplation which allows for its many faucets to be uncovered and was a special dram opened to celebrate with a friend.