112.38 - Away with a citrus soufflé

14 years old, distilled 25th August 2004, 59.6% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 274 bottles, dram price C

SMWS 112.38 - Away with a citrus souffléThe nose has wooden packing crates, lime and lemon, and a hint of orange marmalade. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has oak tannins, more of the orange marmalade and the lime, then a hit of cinnamon and the lime becomes lemon. The finish has lemon and cinnamon.

Water brings out thin, compact whorling that never quite settles into mottling before dissipating. The nose gains hazelnut and brown paper bags full of mushrooms, and loses the packing crates and the orange marmalade. The body gains hazelnut and cloves, and loses the orange marmalade and the lime - but not the lemon. The finish gains cloves and more cinnamon, but the lemon is still present.

For a second fill cask, this is surprisingly woody - yet those notes are effectively balanced with a smorgasbord of fruit flavours.

One for a spring evening.

Technical score: 4/5

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.