17 years old, distilled 28th July 2000, 55.8% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 247 bottles, dram price D

The nose has butter croissants, green apples and baked bananas. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has green apples, banana, digestive biscuits and then lavender. The finish has lavender and green apples.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that doesn’t ever quite settle into mottling. The nose gains lavender and jasmine perfumes, and loses the butter croissants and bake bananas. (The apple remains.) The body gains maple syrup, orange peel and more lavender - but loses the banana and digestive biscuits. The finish gains maple syrup but loses nothing.

A very interesting dram, that does a decent job of integrating the flavours. I preferred it after water, when it gets a little sweeter.

One for spring afternoons.

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.