17 years old, distilled 20th June 2002, 55.1% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 176 bottles, dram price F

The nose has lemon bon-bons, hay, barley water and a hint of ginger. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has barley water, diluted lemon juice, dry grass cuttings and then cinnamon and ginger towards the finish. The finish is lemon and ginger.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly without mottling. The nose gains Tutti Frutti sweets and lemon sherbet. The body gains more sherbet, and loses much of the cinnamon and ginger. The finish gains more lemon and loses the ginger.

An easy-drinking dram, lacking in complexity, making it well suited to being a session dram.

One for summer mornings, after breakfast.

Technical score: 3/5

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.