20 years old, distilled 12th November 1996, 58.1% abv, First-Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 222 bottles, dram price D

The nose has icing sugar, hazelnut and strawberries. The mouthfeel is decent, with a little cling. The palate has cardamom, cookie dough, caramel, strawberries and a herbal hint. The finish is icing sugar, vanilla and cookie dough.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose now has a more herbal note - basil and oregano. The body has lost the cardamom and strawberries, and gains more basil and cookie dough. The finish loses the icing sugar and gains basil.

A chimeric dram, for the tasting crowd.

3.5/5