Nose: It's very interesting to try this one after the old OB, because there are obvious similarities, especially the seaweedy notes and the coal/motor oil. What I also get in this one - and which I don't seem to have found in earlier incarnations of the 12 CS - is this wee combination of fennel, aniseed and gentian in the background. Quite some brine too but it's a fairly gentle expression so far, no true peat monster. Should we complain? Probably not…
With water: Becomes more tarry and earthy, sooty, dry, medicinal…
Mouth (neat): Sharp like a blade and sweet at the same time. Lemon drops and kippers, oysters and gentian again. Wonderful earthy/medicinal profile developing after that. Crystal clean, as they say.
With water: It's the fruitiness that got enhanced, with more lemon and grapefruits, as well as more freshly ground black pepper. I feel it's kind of straighter and more peppery than earlier versions once diluted.
Finish: Long and, again, rather less sweet than earlier 12s.
Comments: Sweet when neat, dry when diluted. Excellent in both cases, of course. Closer to the 2009 than to the 2010. SGP:447 - 90 points.
