9 years old, distilled 28th June 2012, 60.7% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 238 bottles, dram price B

The nose has “Meadow Fresh” laundry detergent, lemon tarts, strawberry coulis and hints of oak. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has diluted lemon juice, meadow fresh fabric softener, strawberry and apple fruit juice and a hint of freshly sawn oak. The finish has lemon, freshly sawn oak and a touch of meadow flowers.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that didn’t linger or mottle. The nose gains more strawberry and the meadow fresh element is tempered. The body gains more strawberry, and some stem ginger and hints of aniseed. The finish gains strawberry, ginger and aniseed.

Quite the turn with water - some spice, more fruit! The spice was still balanced, never overbearing, but not quite my thing. Yet I still want to drink more for that fruit!

One for summer afternoons in the shade.

Technical score: 4.5/5
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.