10 years old, distilled 6th April 2007, 61.7% abv, First-Fill Barrique, 290 bottles, dram price B

The nose has blackcurrant, dates, port and hints of fruits of the forest. The mouthfeel is decent with a little cling. The body has blackcurrant, port, and then cinnamon and cloves. The finish is cinnamon, cloves and blackcurrant. It's more spicy than dry - quite chewy.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates very quickly. The nose gains banana bread and hints of sherry, and loses the dates and fruits of the forest. The body gains banana and sherried notes, and some honey. The cloves are gone but the cinnamon remains towards the finish. The finish is sweeter - losing the cloves.

On the edge of my spice tolerance, but a fine dram for spring hipflasks.

Technical score: 3.5/5

Personal preference: Just the one dram, thanks.