SMWS 4.257 (Highland Park 15yo 2005/2020)

SMWS 4.257 (Highland Park 15yo 2005/2020)

2020, SMWS
Single malt - Islands 
Dark amber
56.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, sea salt, dried apricots, raisins, dark chocolate, cream, sandalwood. With water, dried pears, raisins, red grapes, hints of dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, sticky, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mint, orange peel, dried apricots, raisins, black tea, sea salt, white pepper, rye bread, parchment paper. With water, red grapes, dark chocolate, dried pears, rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, sea salt, rye bread, parchment paper, sandalwood.

Comments: 

Very spicy, well aged, with some odd papery notes. Normally this tastes like cardboard, and is quite unpleasant, but here it’s fragrant, and slightly estery. Lots of cereal notes also, and plenty of dried fruit from the sherry cask. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.