12 years old, distilled 8th June 2006, 58.5% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 162 bottles, dram price B

The nose is a little quiet - strawberries, new oak furniture and sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has toffee, new oak furniture and tobacco with a hint of strawberry and fruits of the forest. The finish has toffee and strawberries, with a little cinnamon at the very end.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains fruits of the forest and pears. The body gains more fruits of the forest and a hint of apricot. The finish gains a little pear and loses some cinnamon.

A decent dram, but not as fruity as I was expecting. Fortunately, the non-fruit flavours are all in balance, and so it works very well.

One for spring afternoons.

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.