71.69 - Riesling hot toddy

11 years old, distilled 30th January 2008, 60.9% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 198 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 71.69 - Riesling hot toddyThe nose has cherries, pineapple juice, lime, coconut and hints of rosewater. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has pineapple juice, cherries, spongecake and cinnamon with hints of red berries and old oak furniture. The finish has cinnamon, cherries, and old oak furniture.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that vanishes before it can mottle. The nose gains old oak furniture and cinnamon, losing the pineapple juice and rosewater. There’s also a top note of hubba bubba chewing gum. The body gains more cherry, more old oak furniture and some caramel - and loses the spongecake. The finish gains more cherry and a little more cinnamon.

A curious dram - I really like the nose both before and after water, but the cinnamon isn’t my kind of thing. That having been said normally “riesling” is a note in the name that I’d shy away from, but I find myself walking towards this one.

One for summer afternoons in the shade.

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.