Dry old oak that reminds me of quality musical instruments, so it's one of those Stradivarius or Amati casks ;) Oak spices (a great combo of demerara sugar, cardamom, and muscat), some Maggi, and old cognac. There's some herbal thing here, fresh mint maybe. The nose is tight, though. You can really feel the over 50%, and even before tasting it already calls for water. When I finally give it a liberal amount (just a little does not take away the sharpness) it becomes amazing with a loud tropical fruit note from the distillate developing on top of all that venerable oak. There is sherry, but it is sublimely enmeshed in the whole so that this is by no means a boringly stereotypical quality sherry whisky. I could nose this for ages.

My expectations are high after the nose, and I'm glad to find they are met and surpassed. It feels tight on the tongue even after drinking some 46% whisky before it, and calls for water. You'll still find a massive elegant sherry and oak waiting to be explored by your tongue. One of those whiskys where taking your time and rolling it around in your mouth for at least 20-30 seconds before swallowing will make your taste buds howl with ecstasy.
Some 1½ teaspoon of water later the sharpness, and only the sharpness, is lost. That high quality sherry wood with its dry dark chocolate and spices is still here. Amazing tertiary development with one of my favorite smells in whisky, rosin, and I don't smell a single generic boring modern sherry cask (the good ones, not the rubber and fart monsters) note. The fruitiness opened up by water is to die for. It's like I'm drinking a mix of old Glengoyne and Glenglassaugh. I wonder if I were to buy a 1980s Glengoyne single cask and a 1960-1970s Glenglassaugh, could I recreate this at home by blending them? Discuss if you have the wealth to try. I don't.

Stays a long while and never wears out its welcome. One of those old whiskys that don't have an excess of drying, bitter tannins but only the good parts of old oak.

Lots of fresh and tropical fruits, apple, pineapple, ripe papaya, little apricot, plum, dates, spices, pepper, cigar tobacco, whiffs of oak wood - great!

Punchy, oily, creamy, sirupy, good sweetness, more tropical fruits, pineapple, mango, papaya, spices, pepper, chili, tobacco, oak wood - excellent!

Long, warm, fruity, spicy, zesty, more punchy

The nose is very exciting. From awkward to more standard, with a constant tension (an undertone of bitter notes, almost like mould but not fully). It starts rather funky and spicy, with lots of cocoa powder, cardamom beans, mint, nutmeg, before a more traditional red apple, prune, old leather books, cigar box, and an old oiled chesterfield (both the wood and leather) come into mind.

This is extremely good. The palate is not too dry (as I feared), has even a bit of a sweet and oily feel. It's very intense on prune (jam), with date, spices, hazelnut, cola, coffee, and cocoa. It's also leafy, with tobacco, wet leaves, and cigar box. One of the best palates I've encountered.

The finish is long, still prune-dominated but with more influence of the wood. It's all in a balanced and harmonised way. Also it reminds me of a good Christmas cake.

Lots of milk chocolate, lots of dark toffee, red apple, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, gingerbread, sweet licorice, hazelnut, sweet, rubbed leather, dark honey, very round and balanced nose

A lot of great pomegranate, great sweet woods, oiled oak, also the oiled leather again, black cherry, raspberry, super balanced and yet present, nutmeg, anise, cinnamon, hint of black pepper as well

Sweet-bitter, cherry, plum, pomegranate, tannins, fennel, oregano, long

Plum juice, red grape juice. This impression disappears after a while in the glass. It creates aromas of sweet caramel, malt, roasted coffee beans, slightly sour and earthy-grassy notes are found.

Wow, what a taste experience! Reminds me of old rum (Zacapa), but somehow also of old Glendronachs. Pure sugar masseuse, sweet malt. Great ratio of acidity and elegant woody notes, which do not dominate, but combine with the other flavors extravagant and produce elegant spices.

Long, sweet-dry and slowly getting dry.

without water:
wow, just old with furniture polish, dark fruits, dusty books, sweet oranges, leather, schwarzwälder-kirschtorte, honey, aromas of rum, sherry, candied ginger, asian spices, lemon grass, sugar beets, impressive.

with water:
more rum aromas come through, complex, hazelnut waffle (hanuta).

without water:
thick and oily with lemon grass again, fresh fruits, caramellsauce, salmon, bacon, old balsamic vinegar, sweet and intense.

with water:
oloroso sherry, walnuts, milk chocolate, wee touch of smoke?

without water:
long and intense with spices, chilli and a nice sweetness.

with water:
doesn't change much here in my opinion.

Warming, starting sweet and fruity with oranges in the dominating role. The aroma reminds of a confectionery, with pyramid cake, pastries and tortes. Furthermore there are notes of toffee and overripe bananas. Totally pleasant.

Powerful, bold and, rich, alcoholic-sweet (schnaps pralines) and very convincing. Glorious oloroso sherry, toffee and lots of raisins. A lovely taste.

Very long, sweet and beautifully sherried, developing a nice spicyness after some time.