Taster

Nose: Very silky and sweet. Coconut and vanilla ice cream. Gentle, soft and a little herbal. Cumin frying in butter. Fluffy. Milk chocolate, caramel. With water there’s green walnut.

Palate: Grippy and very spicy with masses of cinnamon, orange zest and a light long pepper note. Oak-driven (again), but the spirit is plump enough to cope.

Finish: Peppery.

Comment: Slightly obvious and a bit of a show pony, but not bad.

Score: 7.7

Taster

Nose: Pipe tobacco, a distant delicate smoke, clotted cream, cinder toffee and chocolate. Mince pies.

Palate: Very sweet up front. Honey and that cinder toffee. Just a gentle smoke at the back.

Finish: Lush and sweet.

Comment: A good late night whisky for the summer months.

Score: 8.3