9 years old, distilled 23rd October 2008, 60.5% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 215 bottles, dram price B

The nose has old cigar boxes, pine cones and hints of pears. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has old cigar boxes, fresh pine cones, caramel, pears and green apples. The finish has green apples and pine cones.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding water that briefly mottles. The nose gains more pear and green apples and loses the cigar boxes. The body gains vanilla, lemon, more pear and a little cardamom and loses the cigar boxes. The finish gains a little cardamom and more pear and green apples. Cinnamon and cardamom build over time as it dries.

A decent dram that isn’t dry, and isn’t that spicy.

One for autumn afternoons.

Technical score: 4/5

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.