112.37 - Teasing and enticing

23 years old, distilled 23rd January 1995, 53.2% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 115 bottles, dram price F

SMWS 112.37 - Teasing and enticingThe nose has kiwi fruit, white grapes and lychee - with hints of toffee and red berries. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has white grapes, kiwi fruit, red berries, and then a move towards toffee and fresh oak. The finish is fresh oak, kiwi fruit and a curious quinine note.

Water brings out thin, lazily expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains more red berries, some gooseberry and plenty of oak replaces the toffee. The body gains sawdust, pencil shavings, new oak furniture - it loses the red berries. The finish gains a lot more oak.

I would have guessed this as a 7 or 8 year old. I had to double-check the age - that refill cask was a slow worker!

One for an april morning, with your breakfast.

Technical score: 3/5

Personal preference: I’d have another dram.

This whisky was provided by the SMWS in a preview session - thanks to them for that. Full editorial control has been retained in the tasting process.