Laphroaig 20yo 1996 Masterpiece

Laphroaig 20yo 1996 Masterpiece

Masterpieces, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Mahogany
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoked bacon, leather, red grapes, raisins, driftwood smoke, sage, hints of peat. With water, sweeter, strawberry jam, smoke, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, slippery, cool, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Red grapes, driftwood smoke, leather, peat, raisins, hints of damson jam. With water, plums, damson jam, smoke, strawberry jam, sage, seaweed. 
Finish: Long. Damson jam, raisins, peat, smoked bacon. 

Comments: 

I've long wanted to try a Masterpiece, one of those legendary bottlings by Sukhinder Singh of the Whisky Exchange. This one, sherry finished Laphroaig, was bottled in 2016. There's that Laphroaig herbal seaweed of course, tempered by rather dry salty smoke and heaps of peat. But there's extra layers of sweet, jammy notes from the sherry cask, and alluring savoury notes of sage and bacon. So complex, so much to find.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.