27.109 - "Guns on the grouse moor"

16 years old, distilled 31st May 1998, 58.3% abv, refill ex-sherry gorda, 738 bottles

DSC_0188The nose has vanilla, glacê cherries, eucalyptus and hint of boiled ham. These notes don't all come at once - there's not a continuum, but a series of flavours. The mouthfeel is thin with little cling - quite smooth. The body has brine, charcoal grilled gammon, then black pepper. There's also a little heat - white pepper? The finish is sweet, with vanilla and black pepper.

Water brings out tight, shortly lived whorling. The nose now has grass and eucalyptus, and a hint of farmyard. The body has gained a little smokey toffee, but still ends with the strong pepper notes. The finish has more pepper in it.

A good shoreline dram, but a little too warm for me.

2/5