Taster

Nose: A little slick undiluted: apple, resin and orange. Water brings out rubber, fruits, nuts, orange peel and treacle. Autumnal.

Palate: Slightly slick sweet note. Youth and high alcohol combined makes it a pretty lively mouthful.

Finish: Lemon balm, pepper and sherry notes, then alcohol heat. After the fires die there's dry wood, liquorice and soot.

Comment: Fiery. Alcohol dominates too much for me.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Earthy, nutty, sherry.

Palate: Rich, big. Orange toffee. Lively.

Finish: Long, peppery, spicy. All spice.

Comment: With its distinctly reddish chestnut colour, this is clearly well sherried. An uncomplicated, robust, Macallan. Simply delicious.

Score: 9