Single Malt Scotch 25 Year Fruit Utopia Batch 17 (SMWS)

Review #036 Spirit Type: single malt scotch Alcohol by Volume: 50% Comments: This Speyside single malt spent two decades in bourbon hogsheads before being combined and put into custom French oak barriques from Seguin Moreau cooperage for a short but intense maturation. It was then combined again and placed into second-fill bourbon barrels for an additional five years. Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet hue. I couldn't check for legs because the glass appeared to have a water-repellent coating. Nose: 18/20 A very sweet character. Vanilla ice cream and warm banana bread are the most prominent notes, I can almost taste them! Further exploration reveals walnuts and pears. This aroma makes you want to keep smelling it. Palate: 37/40 Amazing! Where to begin? It has a wonderfully smooth, almost silky texture. The bold flavors are fantastic and harmonize beautifully. Red currants, apricots, buttery pastries, tart white grapes, and a hint of coconut are present. Finish: 37/40 A long and intricate finish. It begins with a quick burst of lemon, followed by sweet honey, then bourbon notes that enhance the overall taste like in a well-made cocktail, rather than being overpowering. This fades into a walnut flavor before concluding with a touch of saltiness. With Water: A drop of water brings out melon on the palate and a really pleasant buttery sweetness on the finish. Total: 92/100 Final thoughts: This is truly an exceptional dram, sophisticated yet bursting with flavor and complexity. I had been hesitant to join a certain club, but this pour convinced me to sign up. Thanks to a friend for the sample. Price: gifted sample Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The ultimate dram, truly outstanding, divine, I will cherish this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Nearly perfect, something genuinely special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost complete, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable but not mind-blowing, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to buy again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way for it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or straight down the drain, 2.5 stars or less.