10 years old, distilled 10th February 2011, 60.2% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon, 187 bottles, dram price C

The nose has red apples, meadows in flower, vanilla sponge cake and a bag of apple and lemon flavoured boiled sweets. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has red apples, lemon, vanilla sponge cake, rough leather and hints of oak. The finish has vanilla, red apples, lemon and oak.

Water brings out tight, thin whorling that rapidly expands and then dissipates without mottling. The nose gains more lemon and some hints of leather. The body gains lemon, more vanilla and some hints of wood spice. The finish gains more lemon and vanilla, but surprisingly doesn’t gain much more spice.

A very pleasant and fruity dram that sits on the edge of my spice tolerance, but is still something I think I’d go back to.

One for summer mornings.

Technical score: 4/5
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.