10 years old, distilled 7th April 2009, 59.6% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 264 bottles, dram price B

Point of order - a gentleman with a feather bed in his study is likely to be no gentleman.

The nose has crunchie bars, coconut, butterscotch, honey and hints of pear. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has butterscotch, coconut, honeycomb and pear. The finish has butterscotch, coconut and honeycomb.

Water brings out thick, compact whorling that dissipates without mottling. The nose gains more honey and butterscotch, more pear and some green apple, and loses the coconut. The body gains more pear and hints of lime, with some cinnamon. The finish gains cinnamon and loses nothing.

A joyous experience without water, it was something of a Ronseal whisky - the body and finish did exactly what the nose promised. After water the cinnamon heat arrived, and I was incredibly disappointed as I’d really liked this whisky. Others with a higher spice tolerance are highly advised to look at this, as it’s a very good package. I’ll be drinking it again, but will never add water!

One for autumnal evenings.

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.