41.62 - "A picnic at harvest time"

11 years old, distilled 14th August 2003, 61.4% abv, first fill ex-bourbon barrel, 225 bottles

An instantly appealing nose has an immediate hit of banana and brown sugar, moving towards sultanas and a hint of ginger. The body has a smooth mouthfeel that then becomes fizzy, and gives sweet flavours - sangria, green apples, hay bales and a little hint of farmyard towards the finish. The finish is big, sharp and sweet - back to green apples and sangria with a touch of ginger.

After water - which provides thick, tight and lasting whorls - the nose opens up into foamy banana sweets, dried coconut and cinnamon. The body has caramel and toffee, green apples and hints of the dried coconut from the nose - the mouthfeel is also juicier than before. The finish is light and sweet - toffee and apple skin.

A superb dram for a walk. Please walk my way with it!

4/5