112.22 - Cider and cedar

10 years old, distilled 19th December 2007, 59.9% abv, Second-Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 261 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 112.22 - Cider and cedarThe nose has red apples, vanilla, and hints of cinnamon and ginger. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has cinmamon, ginger, nutmeg and hints of cloves - then a little caramel and some wood. The finish is cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Not too hot, but the spice from the cinnamon is evident.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that lingers briefly before dissipating. The nose gains pecans and loses the red apples. The body gains vanilla, and loses the caramel. The finish is unchanged.

This whisky poses the question "What if we could build a whisky that has every note Philip associates with wood spices?" - the answer turns out to be "It's impressively constructed and drinkable, but never going to be my go-to whisky". A dram for winter afternoons, indoors.

Technical score: 3.5/5

Personal preference: Just the one dram, thanks.