12 years old, distilled 20th April 2007, 58.4% abv, First Fill Ex-Sherry Butt, 619 bottles, dram price C

The nose has raisins, walnuts, demerara sugar and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has walnuts, raisins, ginger and toasted oak. The finish has ginger, walnuts and raisins.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates without mottling. The nose gains apricots and sherry, and loses the dark chocolate. The body gains apricot and sherry notes, and increased ginger, but loses the walnuts. The finish gains ginger and toasted oak.

A sherry monster, perhaps a little dominated by the cask. But it’s not imbalanced, and it’s going to win many friends. The ginger was almost too warm, but not quite.

One for winter 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.