Glendronach 1993 24 Year Cask 656

I've finally opened one of my 'really wonderful' bottles because my wife is expecting our first child, a boy! After 19 weeks, we discovered it's a boy (a milk critic!). So I asked my wife to pick a bottle for me to drink (not a drop for her), and she chose the Glendronach 1993, Single Cask, Sherry Butt, 52.4% abv, Cask 401. It was superb, among the best whiskies ever tasted, very similar to the Glendronach I bottled myself at their distillery. So sweet, so perfect. Now, let's get into it: The nose is perfect. Cherries first, then superb chocolate, hazelnut, almonds, winey notes, coffee beans, dulce de leche, milk powder, chocolate milk powder, wafers, and after a few sips, an orange caramel appears. Simply amazing, like a fancy chocolate bar. The palate is outstanding. Very sweet with a hint of bitterness. Chocolate, wafer, dulce de leche, chocolate powder, Millefeuille. The aftertaste is out of this world. It's spicy yet chocolaty, with oak spice, chocolate, ginger infused into your mouth, a very slight salt note, like a tiny grain of salt – it's madness captured in whisky. Overall, this might just be the best whisky ever made. It's said that 1993 was an exceptional year for Glendronach, and it's easy to see why. You should get any expression from that year and enjoy it. Don't share it; NOBODY DESERVES THIS MORE THAN YOU, AND YOU ALONE. 100/100 SLAINTE MHATH!!!

Yeah... It's acceptable. Not outstanding considering the price. It is complex, though. Just not the appealing kind of complexity – like someone with bipolar disorder who isn't managing their condition. 😏 It has notes of green tea and dates, with some almond paste. It's simultaneously sweet and bitter.