9 years old, distilled 11th May 2007, 60.0% abv, First Fill French Oak Hogshead, 239 bottles, dram price A

The nose has apples, hazelnuts, rosewater, soft caramel and a floral note I can't place. The mouthfeel is thin with little cling. The body continues the soft caramel and hazelnuts, and adds hints of dark chocolate. The finish is quiet - rosewater and soft caramel.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose now gains tea chests and loses the rosewater and apples. The body has gained apples and lost the dark chocolate, and has cinnamon towards the finish. The finish gains cinnamon glaze and loses the rosewater.

A fine but two-faced dram. Fortunately, both faces are lovely...

4/5