19 years old, distilled 7th May 1996, 58.8% abv, refill ex-bourbon hogshead, 211 bottles

The nose has cigar boxes, vanilla, brine and a beach bonfire. The mouthfeel is sharp and has little cling. The body has vanilla, hard pears, cigar smoke and a little bit of soot. The finish is vanilla and smoke from a beach bonfire.

Water brings out thick whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose now has more of a creamy vanilla, less brine and then a little more smoke than before. The body has lost the pear, but gained roast pork and more brine. The finish is much more of the smoke than the vanilla.

A decent dram for a summer's evening or night at the shoreline.

3.5/5