21 years old, distilled 8th October 1997, 53.7% abv, First Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead, 210 bottles, dram price E

The nose has seville oranges, leather tobacco pouches, nutmeg, cinnamon and sultanas. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has tobacco leaves, nutmeg, sultanas, cloves and raisins. The finish has tobacco leaves, sultanas and cloves.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains more oranges, nutmeg and cloves. The body gains more sultanas and tobacco, along with rough leather. The finish gains nutmeg and more cloves.

On the borderline for spice, but the decision to finish this dram in a PX cask has worked very well. Superbly integrated.

One for cold autumn evenings.

Technical score: 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.