77.49 - “C’est sauvage et animale”

11 years old, distilled 7th August 2007, 59.8% abv, First Fill Ex-Barrique, 265 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 77.49 - "C'est sauvage et animale"The nose has caramel, fruits of the forest and a touch of apricot. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has apricot, salted caramel, lychee and a hint of cinnamon. The finish has caramel and lychee with some cinnamon.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains lychee and raspberry, and loses some of the caramel. The body gains more lychee and loses some of the apricot. The finish gains a little more cinnamon.

Only the cinnamon puts this into the Spicy and Dry category, and it’s a soft and gentle delight until you unleash the cinnamon with water.

One for summer evenings.

Technical score: 3.5/5

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.