7 years old, distilled 25th April 2012, 61.8% abv, Second Fill Ex-Sherry Butt, 623 bottles, dram price B

The nose has dusty summer farmyard notes and distant bonfire smoke, joined by hints of pear and apricot. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has soft toffee, dusty earthiness, bonfire smoke and hints of pear and coconut. The finish has toffee, bonfire smoke, apricot and hints of black pepper.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains oranges and hints of lime, and loses the farmyard dustiness. The body gains oranges and lime, and loses the dusty earthiness and some of the coconut and pear. The finish gains oranges and lime.

A curious dram. Finishing a sherried dram in another sherried cask is becoming an SMWS habit, and how this hasn’t been more fruity is anyone’s guess. But the balance is right, and the flavours are great. The oddest thing about this dram is how un-sherried it tastes given its cask history - but who cares, when it works this well?

One for winter afternoons.

Technical score: 4/5

Personal preference: I’d like a bottle.

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.