52.30 - Nae man can tether time nor tide

12 years old, distilled 21st March 2007, 58.4% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 254 bottles, dram price B

52.30 - Nae man can tether time nor tideThe nose has pencil shavings, coconut, gooey caramel, and hints of ginger. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has caramel, toffee, pencil shavings and ginger with a little hint of kiwi fruit. The finish has caramel, ginger and pencil shavings.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates without mottling. The nose gains kiwi fruit and red apples, and loses some of the pencil shavings. The body gains some tobacco leaf and red apples, and the ginger is a little more intense and joined by liquorice. The finish gains kiwi fruit and more ginger.

An interesting dram, but that ginger is a little off-putting for me.

One for spring 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.