Bruichladdich 1990 27 Year Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Rating: 19/23 I saved this for a special occasion, but I was never quite sure what that would be. Today, I finalized the purchase of a house, which feels like a big (and costly) enough moment to justify opening this bottle. N: Sherry and wood dominate. Lots of Oloroso oiliness with citrus. The malty sweetness combines with the citrus for a vague red fruit aroma. The wood contributes a lot of ash. It's a strong nose, but not very complex. I'm feeling pretty indifferent so far. P: The sherry and wood from the nose are present here. They're better integrated, but still not incredibly rich or complex. This is disappointing, as I usually associate aged Bruichladdich with exceptional complexity. I do detect a funky mustiness, suggesting this was once a very unusual distillate. It has a slight burn from the proof and a nice weight. Adding water significantly changes it, and I'm enjoying it much more now! Mellow barrel notes and sweet cinnamon immediately appear. With more water, I get some really nice chocolate, better than my bottle of Westward Single Barrel Cask Strength (Mission pick), though not as intense as Garrison Brothers Cowboy 2020. I also taste tangerine with floral notes, black licorice, a little vanilla, hints of toffee, and some wax. There's a lot going on, and it's delicious and intriguing. F: A bit of waxy numbness remains, along with a bitterness bringing in ash and black licorice. Occasional notes of barrel spice and an underlying sweet malt and toffee. A touch of oiliness too. Faint lingering jasmine and apricot. This doesn't have the complexity or richness of the palate by a good margin. - Conclusion - Some very pleasant flavors are present, but it lacks the complex edge I expect from 27-year-old Bruichladdich. It's a very nice 27-year-old single malt with subtle Bruichladdich characteristics. I'm enjoying it enough to give it a 19, but considering the price of 27-year-old Bruichladdich, that's not a high enough score.