8 years old, distilled 29th September 2009, 58.5% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 207 bottles, dram price A

The nose has peaches, pears, raspberries and fresh cut grass. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has fruit salad chew sweets, peaches, and glacé cherries. The finish has peaches and glacé cherries.

Water brings out thin, rapidly spreading wholring that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains slight hints of almond and new oak furniture, the fruit remains, but the fresh cut grass disappears. The body gains lemon and loses the glacé cherries. The finish gains lemon.

This light, sweet dram punches above its weight - it could easily equal drams twice its age. That alone makes it something worth getting.

One for the midday sun, watching the mad dogs and the Englishmen.

Technical score: 4.5/5

Personal preference: I'd like a bottle.

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.