Taster

Nose: Leather luggage.

Palate: Oily. Full cereal-grain maltiness. Quite steely. Restrained fruity esters. Passion fruit.

Finish: Coconut sweetness. Peppery dryness. A pinch of salt.

Comment: A good, solid blend. Serve chilled, neat, with Loch Fyne oysters, pickled herrings and scallops.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: Rounded and peachy. Oak, vanilla, marshmallow, sultana, toffee. Has complexity.

Palate: Starts spicy (cinnamon/allspice) and lightly, then a soft fruity (dried tropical) mid-palate before a lightly smoky oaky lift.

Finish: Crisp, oak.

Comment: Firmer than the legendary 25 year-old, but a fine replacement.

Score: 8.3