13 years old, distilled 11th May 2006, 51.7% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 97 bottles, dram price B

The nose has red apples, mango, pineapple, and many more fruits. An alcoholic fruit salad! The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has red apples, pineapple and cinnamon with hints of nutmeg. The finish has cinnamon, nutmeg, pineapple and mango.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles quickly into lingering mottling. The nose isn’t much changed - more mango, less red apple. The body gains a little oak furniture and some more mango. The finish gains a little oak furniture.

It’s tempting to write this off as a disappointment, as it doesn’t quite deliver the same fruit bomb on the palate that it teases on the nose. But then, it’s a 13 year old dram at a very reasonable price - I can make allowances. My expectations were as much at fault as the dram’s palate. It’s almost worth buying just for that nose - that stunning fruit salad effect. Like Getafix meeting Cleopatra - I can forgive a lot for that nose!

One for summer evenings.

Technical score: 3.5/5

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.