Another sample to try from our SDT tour provided by one of the originators, Ryan (I am so far behind in my samples). The Kilkerran 12 was just fantastic. Now, I am curious about it's roots, given this Work In Progress and opportunity to taste for myself. Sherry is recognizable immediately on the nose, but not over the top. Dark fruits: figs, dates, raisins. A touch of dried apricots and black cherries are also in the mix. A very fruity nose. Then add in a toffee and caramel sticky sweetness with a mineral earthiness bring the nose all together. No one aroma overpowering the others. A great nose. Take a sip and brown sugar sweetness arrives encasing vanilla and black pepper. A walnut and almond nuttiness with bitter chocolate come through as well in the medium bodied liquid. As time progress during the (soaking it all in) sipping, the sweetness too increases. Gets better in time and patience. A slightly spicy finish of cinnamon, Sriracha, oak and orange bitters with a touch of white pepper coming through on the final fade. More of a flavorful spiciness than that of a Ghost Pepper hot kind-of spice. For a work in progress, it's better than most finally progressed whiskies. The sweetness, spiciness is nicely balanced. Warming through and through. A good sipper on a cold night. Care and quality are discernible and, skipping forward, the producers have produced a great 12 year old through the learning and understanding of what works. [88/100][Tasted: 12/18/17]