Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Fruity start on the nose with apricots, tangerine, pears, subtle banana and creamy vanilla. Lingering citric notes and lemon pith arrive, intermingling with tender spiced oak and a whiff of earthy notes in the back.
Palate: Instant fruitiness with apricots, pears, pineapples and tangerine, complemented by a slightly warming spiciness of oak and caramelised ginger. Creamy with caramel and vanilla, accompanied by citric notes and subtle lemon balm. Gentle and elegant!
Finish: Good length. Lingering orchard fruit, vanilla cream and a light, bright zestiness.
With water: Lots of stewed summer fruits on the nose with a few drops of water. Tangy with more citric flavours coming through while the subtle spiced oakiness almost disappears. Incredibly sweet on the palate with orchard fruit and sticky custard. Then, surprisingly, hot spices start to build with oak, ginger, nutmeg and black pepper. The finish is long, warm, creamy sweet but slightly drying towards the end.
Comments: A delightful elegant dram. Fruity and sweet; a perfect ‘summer' whisky. Water incredibly sweetens but also opens lovely spicy layers. A malt to savour.