16 years old, distilled 15th March 2001, 53.7% abv, First Fill Ex-Sauternes Hogshead, 282 bottles, dram price C

The nose has toffee and cardboard. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has toffee, pecans, and hints of crystallised ginger. The finish has crystallised ginger and dark toffee. This is simple, but well composed.

Water brings out thick, compact and brief whorling. The nose gains red apples and crystallised ginger, and loses the cardboard. The body gains pear and red apples, and loses the pecans. The toffee is darker, and hints of sea-salt. There's also a hint of caramel alongside the crystallised ginger towards the end. The finish gains more ginger and some hints of red apples.

An autumnal dram - for evening gatherings.

Technical score: 4/5

Personal preference: I'd have another dram.