10 years old, distilled 29th August 2008, 61.7% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 205 bottles, dram price B

The nose has papaya, baked apples and toffee. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has papaya, mango, toffee, and hints of orange-flavoured chew sweets. The finish has papaya, toffee and oranges. There’s also a little spirituous note throughout, letting you know that this is a higher ABV.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates without mottling. The nose gains more mango and some orange fruit pastilles, and loses the papaya. The body gains orange fruit pastilles and more mango, but loses nothing. The finish gains more oranges and some mango.

If you’re OK with high ABVs, then this is a belter of a fruit bomb.

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.