14 years old, distilled 5th November 2003, 57.0% abv, First-Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead, 247 bottles, dram price C

The nose has oranges and hessian, with hints of golden syrup and lemongrass. The mouthfeel is decent, very smooth, but with no cling. The body has toffee, caramel, oranges, lemongrass, limes, and hints of ginger. The finish is toffee, oranges and ginger.

Water bring out thick, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into lingering mottling. The nose gains more fruit - mango, watermelon - and the lemongrass is a bit louder. The body gains the same fruit increase - so many sweet flavours it's hard to focus, but I found nectarines, mango, pear and fruits of the forest, with a hint of pineapple towards the finish. The toffee is diminished. The finish gains pears, pineapple and retains the oranges and ginger.

A fine fruit explosion - one for the sweet of tooth.

4/5