39.171 - Comes out swinging

12 years old, distilled 13th July 2006, 59.2% abv, First Fill Barrique, 251 bottles, dram price B

SMWS 37.171 - Comes out swingingThe nose has pears, red apples and watch oil. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has red apples, toffee, watch oil and cinnamon. The finish has toffee and cinnamon.

Water brings out thick, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into lingering mottling. The nose gains toffee, but loses nothing. The body gains more cinnamon and loses a little of the red apples. The finish gains more cinnamon and some nutmeg.

A decent dram with a lot of spice, but plenty of other flavours to balance it out.

One for autumn afternoons.

Technical score: 3.5/5

Personal preference: Just the one dram, thanks.

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.