Taster

Nose: Woody and earthy (dunnage warehouses) with notes of stewed tea. Water brings out a muscular, toffeed note.

Palate: Big, very dry and tannic with some mushroomy, rancio notes but no great complexity.

Finish: Dry and tannic with some lively spiciness.

Comment: Of interest certainly, but is it a pleasurable experience? Not really.

Score: 6.5

Taster

Nose: Tightly combined, and balanced, fragrant smoke, oak and hard toffee maltiness.

Palate: Chewy. Malty honeycomb in dark chocolate. As though the Belgians had upgraded the Brit ish Crunchie bar. Tropical fruits.

Finish: Clinging. Bittersweet. Firm. Intense black chocolate, but avoids astringency.

Comment: The best Ben Nevis I have tasted.

Score: 8.3