15 years old, distilled 1st June 2000, 58.6% abv, Virgin Oak Butt, 264 bottles

The nose has spring meadow fabric softener, lemon bon-bons and a hint of camphor wood. The mouthfeel is thin and smooth with no cling. (But it dries into an aggressive tinge on the palate.) The body has mango, lychee, oranges and then the mouth begins to dry and the flavours segue smoothly and seductively into oak shavings and sandalwood. The finish short - cinnamon and oak.

Water brings out tight thin whorling that settles but never quite mottles. The nose loses the lemon, but gains a hint of fennel. The body isn't much changed, but it does have less of the wood notes. The finish is a little sweeter - hints of mango joining the cinnamon.

One for a summer's hip flask.

3.5/5