71.65 - Cracking - crispy & crunchy

8 years old, distilled 23rd November 2010, 56.4% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 248 bottles, dram price A

SMWS 71.65 - Cracking - crispy and crunchy!The nose has mango juice and new pine furniture. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has mango, hay, lots of wood and some gentle lemon. The finish has wood and mango, with hints of lemon.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains lemon and rosewater, and loses the pine furniture. The The body gains more lemon and some hints of paprika. The finish gains paprika and more lemon.

A very decent dram for its age, I preferred the nose after water but the body and the finish before water.

One for spring afternoons.

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.