A traditionally fruity single malt from Speyside, enhanced by a fi nish in an Oloroso sherry hogshead for 18 months. The nose is extremely pleasant, and deceivingly simple: a sunny fruit salad, mostly pears and apples, but also with hints of oranges. Clean, bright and absolutely pure. But just wait for the fi rst sip, either straight or with a drop of water: there is a lively fi ght between sweeter and drier notes, which goes on forever. One instant it’s honeyed, juicy, with notes of marzipan and cinnamon cakes, and the next it’s more oriented towards the citrusy taste of blood oranges. Intense, and again very sunny. The interplay of sweet and sour goes on even in the aftertaste, with notes that may even remind of dry cider. Playful and easy in spite of the strength.