Nose

Tight, grainy oak to start, but it opens to show a good depth of fragrant barley, wood spice, violets, oxidised fruit, peat and vanilla.

Palate

Full, barley with lashings of summer fruit, apricot and apple. A little tannic on the middle with some gritty spices but the oils and the vanilla oak balance.

Finish

Intense and herbal, quite mouth-watering with lingering gritty oak and vanilla.

Comment

Refreshing to see a well-matured Australian whisky that is not overpowered by sherry. I’ll drink to that!