26 years old, distilled 31st May 1991, 51.8% abv, First-Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead, 210 bottles, dram price I

The nose has navy rum, oranges and barbecue smoke, and a faint herbal hint. The mouthfeel is decent - but has little cling. The body has oranges, pears, rum soaked sultanas. The finish is oranges, pears and a little polished mahogany - very drying, turning a little bitter as it does so.

Water brings out thick, rapidly spreading whorling that settles into lingering mottling. The nose gains more oranges, more herbs (rosemary, fennel) and a little polished mahogany. The body gains more oranges, sultanas and loses the pears. There's also a hint of dark chocolate towards the finish. The finish gains dark chocolate.

A finely balanced dram - deep flavours and nicely delivered. One for firesides.

4.5/5