14 years old, distilled 31st May 2002, 58.5% abv, Second-Fill Ex-Oloroso Butt, 384 bottles

The nose has Danish pastries, oiled walnut furniture panels and a hint of pears. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has caramel, sponge cake, sweet sherry and cherries with just a hint of pear in the background before the finish kicks in and brings cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. The finish lingers briefly, gaining cherry as it does.

Water brings out compact whorling that lingers briefly as mottling. The nose now gains more pear and some green apples, and loses the Danish pastries. The body gains butterscotch and loses the sherry, and there's an additional liquorice note underneath the spices towards the finish. The finish itself loses the cherry but gains a hint of liquorice.

A good dram for the cold spring mornings, to make porridge fit for human consumption.

3.5/5