12 years old, distilled 1st June 2006, 55.6% abv, Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 278 bottles, dram price B

The nose has green apples, apricot, waxed lemons, pear drops and a hint of flint flagstones. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has waxed lemons, green apples, hard pears and a hint of thyme. The finish has green apples, waxed lemons and thyme.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that quickly settles into lingering mottling. The nose gains more waxiness and loses the apricot in favour of more green apples. The body gains thyme, more pears and green apples, and the lemon is sharper. The flintiness is also a little more pronounced. The finish gains pears and more lemon.

A session dram. I can see a group of friends sitting down and sinking two bottles of this without even realising it as they chat. Although at 55.6% abv, it will be regarded as falling over juice forevermore after that!

One for summer evenings with friends.

Technical score: 4.5/5

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.