7.221 - Hop Scotch

16 years old, distilled 4th June 2002, 50.3% abv, First Fill Ex-IPA barrel, 171 bottles, dram price D

SMWS 7.221 - Hop scotchThe nose has green apples, kiwi fruit, strawberries, lime, and some vanilla. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has lime, oranges, lemon sherbet, marzipan and marshmallows - and a lot of hoppiness. The finish is hops and lime.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains hops, and loses the strawberries. The body gains more hops and some cinnamon. The finish gains more hops.

This is a zesty, fruity whisky that pulls off the IPA cask trick quite well. There will be those who wonder why you don’t just have a beer, but for others it’s an oddity worth exploring.

One for summer afternoons on a very hot day.

Technical score: 4.5/5

Personal preference: I’d have another dram.