85.57 - Clean and attractive

13 years old, distilled 5th July 2006, 59.6% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 277 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 85.57 - Clean and attractiveThe nose has meadow fresh fabric softener, vanilla, spearmint and hints of chamomile. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has vanilla, lemon, barley sugar water and fresh oak furniture. The finish has oak sap, vanilla and a little cinnamon.

Water brings out thin, compact whorling that settles very quickly into a brief mottling. The nose gains oak furniture and hints of rich tea biscuits. The body gains more vanilla, some pear and some custard creams, then cinnamon towards the finish. The finish gains cinnamon heat.

A very good dram, with a little too much cinnamon for me - but I really like the nose and the body both before and after water. I wouldn’t add water in future, to avoid that cinnamon.

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.