Dailuaine 14 (North Star Cask Series 15)

North Star Series 15 and 16 tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, March 9, 2022. Whisky #3 Nose: Cherries, honey, waxed leather, golden syrup, dark chocolate. A subtle hint of coconut and just enough oak to add depth without overpowering the distillate. Palate: A rich, warm, and comforting initial impression. It's spicy yet gently sweet, with the alcohol heat and baking spices well-integrated. Beeswax notes emerge during development, along with notes of freshly baked cherry Danish, apple strudel, and a touch of orange conserve. The texture is waxy and slightly oily with good body. Finish: Medium. Mildly and sweetly spicy. Now we're getting somewhere. After the first two rather unremarkable drams at the tasting, this one finally captured my attention from the outset. The nose is luscious and sweet but avoids being overly saccharine. An oloroso refill butt was an ideal match for this spirit; a PX cask would have been far too intense. It's well-sherried and possesses good structure. Enjoyable neat. Adding water had both positive and negative effects. On one hand, it enhanced the nose by integrating the existing aromas very pleasantly, rather than introducing new ones. On the other hand, the palate became softer, which it didn't need. The ABV is sufficient to handle dilution well, but it seemed unnecessary. A fine whisky at a reasonable price, and it turned out to be my favorite expression of the evening, surpassing a much older Tobermory and narrowly beating the very pleasant Supersonic Mach 2 (reviews for both will follow). I purchased a bottle. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)