19 years old, distilled 9th May 2002, 52.2% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 184 bottles, dram price D

The nose has chew sweets - orange and lime flavoured - and then soft vanilla and hints of petrichor. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has orange chew sweets, vanilla ice-cream, Pimms and a hint of lime at the end. The finish has lemon and lime, vanilla ice-cream and some peaches.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains more petrichor and some peach. The body gains peach and loses the ice-cream somewhat. The finish gains more peach.

A very pleasing light dram that benefited from water but didn’t need it - plenty of fruit backed up by good but light wood notes.

A fine dram for spring afternoons or summer mornings. Try both!

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.