12 years old, distilled 5th November 2003, 57.1% abv, Virgin Oak Hogshead, 234 bottles

The nose has an exotic fruit salad, with mango and passion fruit and a little pineapple. Underneath that is a pleasant vanilla note, and hints of warm sponge cake. The mouthfeel is decent with some cling. The body has more of the vanilla sponge cake, and then mango and pineapple with a hint of balsa wood. The finish is short with pineapple and vanilla.

Water brings out thick, rapidly expanding whorling that slowly dissipates rather than submit to the indignity of mottling. The nose loses the passion fruit and the mango is diminished, but it gains a slightly herbal note - fennel and thyme? The body has lost the mango, and gained crystallised ginger, which continues into the finish alongside pineapple and a return of the fennel from the nose.

A lovely dram for starting the day, or restarting it should the need arise.

4.5/5