7 years old, distilled 10th May 2011, 60.1% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 139 bottles, dram price B

The nose has smoky bacon crisps, exotic wood and hints of pear and apple. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has soy sauce, pears, honey, and a sea salt towards the end. The finish is sea salt, lemon, honey and smokey bacon crisps.

Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates without mottling. The nose gains soy sauce and loses the exotic wood and smoky bacon crisps. The body gains more soy sauce and some red apple, but the sea salt is tamed a little. There’s also a hint of watch oil towards the end. The finish loses some of the lemon, but gains watch oil.

A very good oily and coastal dram, that somehow manages to integrate a set of flavours that you wouldn’t think should work - but it does it with grace.

One for spring evenings.

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.