Taster

Nose: Perfumed – jasmine, old roses, with light floral honey and golden syrup. Fabric softener. Very sweet. Green apples and straw – hay-barns – pencil-shavings and green tea.

Palate: Syrupy and sweet at with custard creams and vanilla custard. Sweetness drops sharply, and it becomes more grungy affair: dry, dusty, cloying, bitter and acidic.

Finish: Sweet, spicy, peppery, with specks of ash, nutmeg and black pepper.

Comment: Tired wood, possibly, but an entertaining whisky despite that.

Score: 7.3

Taster

Nose: Granny's bedroom. Lavender draw liners, lily of the valley perfume, daffodils out too long and rose water. Some gentle oak notes and stewed pears.

Palate: Big sugar hit up front, apple and custard, hard sweets, then recedes back into the dunnage warehouse. Earthy, alcohol damp wood, a little dusty and Parkin cake.

Finish: The sweetness is back, wrapped up in some great spice and vanilla hits.

Comment: Despite its high ABV the alcohol takes a back seat to the aromas and flavours. Good stuff.

Score: 7.8