10.98 - Super Smoky Firestarter

8 years old, distilled 7th February 2008, 60.4% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 168 bottles

SMWS 10.98 - Super smoky FirestarterThe nose is big and smokey - crisp bonfire smoke and then vanilla notes in the background. The mouthfeel is thin with little cling. The body has more of that crisp smoke, a coastal breeze and then hickory and vanilla. The finish is big - hickory smoke and vanilla.

Water brings out big, rapidly expanding whorling that settles rapidly into mottling. The nose gains charcoal and more hickory. The body gains a little smokey fudge before delivering the bigger smoke notes. The finish is unchanged.

A superb smoky dram, for the start of the evening. And the middle of the evening. And the end of the evening...

4/5