One of the lesser known distilleries in the recent batch of Single Malts of Scotland single cask releases: a Tormore 1988.
Tormore 28 yo 1988 (63,3%, Single Malts of Scotland 2016, cask #0602)
Nose: this impressive strength brings out the dusty old style, while leaving the thick body in place. Malty core, with sweet oranges, cooked apples and a hint of peaches. Subtle spices and dried grassy notes.
Mouth: punchy, though the flavours are fairly neutral. Thick fruity notes (oranges, apples) with some butterscotch, honey and spicy oak (pepper, ginger). The warm spirit takes center stage.
Finish: long, with a lingering fruity sweetness and oak spices.
I tried this head-to-head with the Tormore 1988 ALOS and both are really similar of course, although the added strength leads to different aromatic accents. Playing around with water makes them almost identical. This one costs around € 175.
Score: 88/100