Springbank Single Cask 19 Year Fresh Sherry

I rarely purchase a second bottle of anything, especially at these price points, yet this one was an obvious choice. On the nose, I get berries, figs, raisins, a deep blend of grape medicine and juice, with a salty brine and faint alcohol notes. It truly presents a fusion of dessert wine and savory characteristics. A really exceptional aroma. On the palate, it's the signature malt but enhanced by a powerful, fresh fruity sherry. Unlike some others, it lacks vanilla notes. While not excessively funky or musty, there might be a hint of sulfur, though I'm not sensitive enough to detect it clearly. The finish, however, is subtly peated, savory, features a fine oak note, and evokes the essence of aged whisky, which is unusual for a spirit of this youth. This reminds me of the Glengoyne 25 year I recently reviewed, and I believe it's an equally perfect example of a classic sherry bomb. The issue with that whisky was its focus on fine European oak barrels; the natural malt was overshadowed, and while there were pleasant oak spices, the oak itself seemed secondary. I appreciated it, but its lack of complexity resulted in a 4.0 score. Here, the malt character of this spirit is not easily overpowered. You still perceive the light peat and salt, and perhaps the "funk" is less pronounced, but the finish retains the spirit's distinct character. The oak barrels contribute more than just sherry, imparting a pleasing oak flavor at the end. This is an outstanding dram, with only minor drawbacks. 1. It's a tad too dry, which isn't surprising given its age, ABV, and first-fill sherry casks. 2. Some might prefer a more dessert-like profile or a bitter, earthy note. Perhaps a refill sherry butt would help, but I'm uncertain how to transform the malt into a dessert flavor. 3. There's a significant amount of sediment in the bottle, which becomes off-putting by the end (this is my second bottle). While I appreciate unfiltered spirits and some raw casks, this sediment isn't ideal for me. 4.5 - If you encounter a newly sherry-influenced spirit from this producer, even if not cask strength, you won't be disappointed (and another new sherry bottle will be reviewed soon).