25 years old, distilled 23rd September 1993, 55.1% abv, First Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead, 194 bottles, dram price H

The nose has sweet tobacco, rum, sherried notes and hints of tropical fruits. The mouthfeel is thin with a little cling. The body has tobacco, old oak furniture, wax jackets, sherry and a hint of spiced rum. The finish has sherry, tobacco and a little wood spice.

Water brings out thick, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains old oak furniture and loses the rum. The body gains rough leather and more tobacco, and loses some of the rum and sherry. The finish gains tobacco and loses the wood spice.

An elegant dram, which allows both the sherried second maturation and the original bourbon to shine.

One for autumn evenings.

Technical score: 4.5/5

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.