11 years old, distilled 14th August 2002, 59.9% abv, first fill ex-bourbon barrel, 211 bottles

The nose has peach, pineapple and a hint of strawberry alongside sponge cake. The body is very fruity - apples, peaches, pineapple, apricot. There’s also a bit of spice - cinnamon, aniseed, and a touch of chilli. The mouth-feel is reasonable - not thick, but coating. The finish is a little floral - summer meadows in bloom.

After water (which whorls tightly and lingers) the nose now has toasted granary bread and cinnamon. The body has less fruit, and the fruit is lighter - melons, mangoes. The spicy notes have faded a little, but are still there as a background. The finish is shorter and more subdued - still floral, but with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla.

A decent dram for starting a spring day.

3.5/5