48.104 - Punnets of pink

13 years old, distilled 29th March 2005, 54.6% abv, First Fill Ex-Red Wine Barrique, 132 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 48.104 - Punnets of pinkThe nose has sloe gin and hints of strawberries, with a hint of cherries. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has strawberries, sloe berries and then a hit of charred wood and cherries. The finish has strawberries and cherries.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that quickly settles into brief mottling. The nose gains more strawberry and some blood orange, and loses a bit of the sloe and the cherry. The body gains blood orange and more strawberry, and loses much of the charred wood. The finish gains oranges.

An interesting dram - it works, but it’s not what I expected from a whisky, and the colour is certainly bold!

One for autumnal evenings.

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.