10.134 - Cleaner than a ship's whistle

9 years old, distilled 7th February 2008, 60.0% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 240 bottles, dram price C

SMWS 10.134 - Cleaner than a ship's whistleThe nose has sea breezes, pickled onion crisps, and smoke from a distant wood fire. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has that clean, dry wood smoke from the nose and then brings vanilla, ginger and hints of lemon and rosewater. The finish is smoke and ginger.

Water brings out compact whorling that settles into lingering mottling. The nose gains rosewater and loses some of the pickled onions. The body gains liquorice and a little more lemon, but the crisp gentle smoke is still the dominant note. The finish is unchanged.

I was going to score this a four, then put my watchglass over it to save it for after I'd finished tasting the list. That was when I realised I may have been a bit mean, and gave it the extra half point it so richly deserves.

A shoreline dram.

4.5/5