Taster

Nose: Clean and sweet with a mix of laurel\rand wheat chaff/hay to the fore but behind there's a sweetness of honey/mead and apple blossom. Its age is suggested by the toasty wood, wooden apple boxes and old paper.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a thick creaminess. The honey and caramelised fruits return along with dark chocolate and hazelnut.

Finish: Light clean, nutty and fresh.

Comment: Good to see Auchroisk finally getting a bottling which does it justice.

Score: 8.2

Taster

Nose: Enticing. Malty and nutty. Hazelnut toffee, chestnut purée, dried fruit. Sultanas, nuts. Dried apples. On time, a floral note. Rose or Turkish delight. With water, a citrussy note.

Palate: Silky. Smooth but with nerves. The same nutty character followed by an\routburst of spices. An elegant oak grip.

Finish: Long, dry. Gentle oak.

Comment: The alcohol is well mastered. A multilayered classic Speysider enhanced by an elegant oaky frame.

Score: 8.2