11 years old, distilled 5th October 2007, 54.9% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 264 bottles, dram price B

The nose has lemon, vanilla, dried fruits and a hint of white pepper. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has fresh oak shavings, dried coconut and apples, some lemon and then white pepper. The finish has lemon, white pepper and dried apple.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that settles into brief mottling. The nose gains pineapple and hints of antisceptic bandages, but loses nothing. The body gains pineapple, gorse bushes and hints of antisceptic, and loses some of the white pepper. The finish gains antisceptic and pineapple, and loses the white pepper.

A curious dram - I didn’t expect some of these notes. The white pepper was too much for me, but water tamed it.

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.