Laphroaig 20yo, The Single Malts of Scotland, Director's Special, 493 bottles, 53.8% abv.

Supposedly this was taken from a single oloroso sherry butt. The Single Malts of Scotland started in 2000 (or 2005?) by Elixir Distillers, formerly known as Speciality Drinks. Elixir Distillers was started by brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, who also founded online spirits shop, The Whisky Exchange. The "very-well aged whiskies" are bottled under Director's Special.

Nose: strong, salty, bold, salted breakfast bacon, cured meats, a syrup like sherry in the back, a little overwhelming.

Palate: full bodied, quick and potent, initial palate is spicey, mid palate is gets stronger, white and black pepper, a slight combined fruit and sherry sweetness, viscous, back palate has elements of boiled fruit with oil. Wow this one has an intense palate that develops very quickly. Quite delicious.

Finish: medium, dried black cherries, old strawberry jam, black currants, less citrusy blackberries, juice-like, with time it approaches that expired sherry/wet old steamed lotus leaves border. Still very strong.

A potent and fast acting bottle. The pour accelerated into flavor dissemination and it also maintained a high level of strength. This one keeps attacking. Very good. Not sure if it's because I've been drinking more normal abv-ers, or if it actually is a well bodied strong pour, although it doesn't taste like a ~55%-er. Special bottle but my senses are telling me to be conservative. Relative to the 40yo, this one seems more passionate.

Grade: A-

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.