Tobermory 21 year Sherry Octave Sujet III 1995/2017 Whic Special

This whisky, produced in March 1995 and bottled in January 2017, spent approximately 20 years in a single American white oak ex-bourbon hogshead. It was then transferred to three small sherry octave casks for an additional 8 months of finishing. The limited release yielded 231 bottles at cask strength, 48.6% ABV – an incredible amount lost to the angels. Nose: A classic sherry-finished single malt Scotch at cask strength. Aromas of liquid caramel, orange oil, creamy vanilla, and sweet baking spices are present. It has an oily, full consistency with hints of pepper and marshmallows. There's a touch of garlic (sulfur) that intensifies over time. The aroma is very smooth, yet quite potent even at "only" 48% ABV, which is still natural cask strength. Palate: It begins with an intense, dry sweetness that has a slightly metallic and very pleasant quality. This is followed by strong wood notes, reminiscent of apple tree wood. The most prominent flavor is roasted cocoa beans/nibs. Additional notes include wet tobacco leaves, clear apple juice, cinnamon, and a subtle increase in sweetness, leading to dark chocolate. Finish: Flavors of wood and roasted coffee, bitter chocolate, raisins, and burnt sugar. This is a powerful whisky. I appreciate that its strengths lie in intense bitter, organic, and spicy notes rather than overt sweetness. The nose is sweeter and fruitier than the palate and finish, creating an interesting contrast. Tobermory consistently produces good whisky that is well-crafted and of noticeable high quality. They are also one of the distilleries adept at producing both peated and unpeated expressions. This single cask bottling at cask strength was impressive, and I thoroughly enjoyed the sample. It's unique and very interesting but demanding, not a spirit to be casually sipped.