At the moment I don't expect anything more from new releases - again and again wet barrel or dead pants at lavish prices. Here I was very positively surprised, elegant, noble, lively, pulsating and with some aroma components felt several years more mature than the label says.
But finally a malt again where my nose won't let go and I still want one.

nose
Sweet ripe fruits, one approach of my beloved overripe tropical fruits is to smell. Honey is almost oozing from the glass. Very slightly hot, but with otherwise well integrated alcohol, which represents the age appropriately. Oily, slightly salty, almost a trace mineral - somehow the Highlands get through even if it's a Speysider? Subtle sherry aromas are slowly emerging, but the barrel was certainly not very strong here. Raisins, brown sugar, dried plums. The longer it stays, the sweeter it becomes. A nose that knows how to fascinate, complex, multi-layered, extremely tasty! The fact that I keep my bottle seems only a matter of form, only the pepper aromas in my mouth that are often mentioned in the sales notes can make me a bit nervous.

taste
And it actually occurs a little stronger in the mouth, the alcohol is a little more noticeable, but remains pleasant. Fresh, citrus fruits, grass, spices and, as promised, pepper. Fun and lively, here he behaves a little younger than expected. With the third sip it becomes a little quieter and the fruit and the sweetness come back a little, but remain much more in the background than in the nose. I don't notice much of the sherry barrel, it is now more of a light wood note and a slight bitterness. Leather, old furniture, some tobacco and pipe smoke? In any case, significantly less sweet and also a little less round than on the nose.

Exit
Here clearly the promised pepper, not burning, but warming and with the aroma of black peppercorns. In addition, slightly bitter wood, leather and a slightly oily layer on the tongue. Now almost no more sweetness. The wood stays there for a long time. Spices of the rather hot kind are also shown. Chilli?

Conclusion
An extremely changeable painting, in which the nose is absolutely fascinating and there is a second side to be explored while drinking, which is also delicious, albeit different. The bottle stays, I'll be happy to try it more often and try to find more flavors.

N-93, T-89, F-88 for a good 90 points that are strongly driven by the nose.

Haven't found the perfect setting with water yet. Without it it's too hot for me, and with it it gets a bit woody. Let's see, maybe I'll find the right balance.

wonderfully complex malt. I like it very much. Very complex in the aroma profile. Ser is really fun

Great aromas pour into the room when pouring. Water doesn't help the whisky.