I have flip-flopped between rating this and the Dow's 10 Year Old higher. The primary issue is that the two are best experienced in quite different situations. A short story might be useful here. I first tried this at Clearwater Seafood in Pasadena, a restaurant I wholeheartedly recommend. I had it alongside crème brulée with raspberries, and thought that this was heaven in a glass. I bought a bottle, and realized quickly that I had experienced this in the ideal situation.

In the palate, the fruit hits first. The body is distinctly creamy, as if it were cut with half-and-half. Over a span of about twenty seconds, other flavors start to develop, tumbling gently in the mouth. Caramel, toffee, and mellow tobacco flavors arise. The finish is distinctly (what were the chances?) raspberry. A fine tawny in its own right, but for full enjoyment have with raspberry crème brulée. [Last tasted February 2000]