11 years old, distilled 18th February 2010, 62.7% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 255 bottles, dram price B

The nose has digestive biscuits, tar, barbecued seafood, and a hint of lemon. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has lemon, barbecued seafood, tar, vanilla and a hint of distant bonfire smoke. The finish has lemon, tar and distant bonfire smoke.

Water brings out tight, thin whorling that expands rapidly and settles into brief mottling. The nose gains more vanilla and loses the digestive biscuits and some of the tar. The body gains more lemon and some lime, but loses the tar. The finish gains some lime and loses a little of the smoke.

A good lightly peated dram with plenty of citrus notes from the cask balanced by the smoke. But I don’t think I’ll be adding water again, and it loses half a point for becoming less interesting when watered.

One for summer evenings.

Technical score: 3.5/5
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.