Elgin Flâneur 35.325 (SWMS) Glen Moray

Nose: Orchard fruits, summer berries, hairspray, sweet, nutty Palate: Sweet stone and orchard fruits, ginger, honey, golden syrup, vanilla, oak, citrus/lemon Finish: Medium-long. Dark, woody, and leathery. Still plenty of sweet fruit, but leaning more towards lemon and lime, with some fruitcake at the very end. This was a superb small batch bottling from this producer. While this distillery sometimes has a reputation for being budget-friendly, this release demonstrates its potential as a truly solid whisky, especially as a cask strength offering from an independent bottler. The primary profile is sweet and fruity, transitioning from berries and orchard fruits to stone fruits and a hint of dried fruit on the palate. It's well-balanced, yet quite understated for its 58.4% ABV. No water is needed to soften it; at cask strength, it's very approachable. I really enjoyed this as a summer drink. Definitely a top-shelf choice, and it was a pleasant small dram.