14 years old, distilled 19th October 2004, 56.9% abv, First Fill Vosges Oak Hogshead, 369 bottles, dram price C

The nose has scorched wood, IPA beers, green malt, toffee and lemon. Weird! The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has more toffee and lemon, green malt, and IPA beers. The finish has lemon and scorched wood.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that doesn’t get much of a chance to mottle. The nose gains more toffee, soft notes of apricot and mango, and loses some of the IPA and green malt. The body gains more toffee and IPA, and some lime and strawberry. The finish gains some toffee.

A curious dram. The cask has done an excellent job, but the combination of flavours is bound to raise eyebrows. That the whisky holds them all together is to its credit.

One for spring afternoons.

Technical score: 4.5/5

Personal preference: I’d have another dram.