29.254 - A match made in heaven

9 years old, distilled 29th August 2008, 60.3% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 234 bottles, dram price D

SMWS 29.254 - A match made in heavenThe nose has brine, smokey bacon and hints of hickory. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has hickory smoke, smoked bacon and hints of pineapple. The finish is smoked bacon and hickory smoke, with baked pineapple.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains barbeque sauce and hickory smoke, and loses some of the brine. The body gains barbeque sauce and loses some of the smoked bacon. The finish loses a little of the bacon.

Not the most complicated dram, but it's well constructed and delivers a superb set of flavours. One for winter afternoons.

Technical score: 3.5/5

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!