52.29 - The wicker dram

17 years old, distilled 18th June 2001, 58.2% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 171 bottles, dram price D

52.29 - The wicker dramThe nose has coastal notes - brine and rock pools. There’s also a light candle wax, oak resins and a hint of pear. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has more of the coastal notes, pear, lemon, and hints of liniment. The finish has rock pools and pear with a little lemon.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whoring that quickly settled into brief mottling. The nose gains lemon, coconut and hints of liniment. The body gains coconut, sage and a little hint of wax jackets. The finish gains wax jackets and sage.

A superb Old Pulteny - not what I’d expected, but brilliantly composed and delivered.

One for summer evenings.

Technical score: 4.5/5

Personal preference: I’d like a bottle.

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.