Found one of the old style bottles sitting around the store and decided to pick it up. The 12 year old was my first single malt so I’m excited to try this one. Nose: sherry influence is obvious. Fruits like apple and pear are present. Also a distinctly brandy note is there. Unlike the 12 the smoke takes quite some time to find on the nose. Palate: Sherry nuttiness and honey are first. Next comes the apples then brine. At the very end is more ash than smoke, but a slight amount of that peat influence is there. Finish: The sweet and fruity notes fade almost immediately. The brine lingers only slightly longer leaving you with the ash. This stays for a medium amount of time before the finish ends. I enjoyed this quite a bit, although I’m certain part of that is the nostalgia of the 12 year old being my first single malt. Is it worth the $130 entry fee? For me yes, as the malt is certainly quality and gives you a bit of everything as far as tasting notes are concerned. If you prefer sherry bombs or peat monsters you will likely find this disappointing, but in my experience it is wonderfully balanced and is definitely recommended. Sláinte!