Two sherry casks in two nights. Trying to knock a couple of extra drams out in the last few days before my daughter arrives and long contemplative drams get shelved for a while (perhaps?!). N: Dense, dark, and quite broody. Dark treacle or camp fire toffee is mingled with rich spices like cardamon, pepper, cinnamon and perhaps a touch of brighter anise? That spice is layered with dark woody vanillin, tannic oak, and the suggestion of a dark fruit bouquet. This is a smouldering and richly inviting nose but I suspect its also cautionary to whats about to be unleashed… P: Oomph, that is a Chinese New Year Firework. An almost sherbet like pepper flash sets things off with a blaze. Subsequent sips are less assaulting and more ginger like with juicy sultanas, raisins, plums and figgy depths to discover. Orange zest, a hint of mocha and a clean crisp texture that has just the right balance of oak tannin and softening toffee notes to keep everything even and well tempered throughout. My word though, that peppery opening, phwoar. F: Medium. Dark fruit chocolate, a hint of espresso bitterness, and some juicier stewed fruits. Perhaps something nutty, maybe almond. The pepper and the brooding nose suggested that this could take a splash of water. And that it can, the peppery tempest is calmed and there are new elements to be had. A gentler nose with brighter almost tropical zestyness and a brighter aspect to the oak. The palate finds apricot and grilled pineapple, fresh oranges and fresh wood shavings, maybe even demerara sugar. The finish changes little but there is a bit of a coppery presence maybe. Wow, that was unexpected. That really took me deep. This is a heavy weight whisky for sure, that batch strength is not mucking about. But for the depths of the initial nose and the ferocity of the initial taste, this ended up feeling refined and satisfying. Probably not something i would reach for to unwind with, but definitely one for blasting Verdi - Requiem, Dies irea to and considering world domination. Thank you @cascode the depths of your whisky cabinet are a treasure to us all (but mostly me it seems, thanks Sir!). Distiller whisky taste #273 [Pictured here with a piece of the Kambalda Komatiite from Mount Hunt in Western Australia. Komatiite is a highly magnesium-rich rock formed during near complete melting of the mantle and subsequent eruption as a volcanic lava. This rock could only form until around 2.5 billion years ago when the temperature of the mantle was 100-250 C hotter. These rocks are ubiquitous for their green colour and spinifex textures of large needle like dendrite plates of olivine and pyroxene]