Taster

Nose: Rich and buttery, hints of toffee fudge, ginger cake and vanilla. Summer fruits add some complexity and depth, with just a hint of sulphur which gives body rather than astringency.

Palate: The toffee notes of the nose come to life in a very sweet palate, which is more like a young Armagnac than a Scotch. Bags of runny honey and plenty of oaky goodness. Does not show its strength. Even with water the sweetness comes through.\n

Finish: Sweet, liquorice and damson jam. \n

Comment: The more of it I tried, the more I liked it. A real sweetheart of a whisky.

Score: 8.7

Taster

Nose: Opens with warm vanilla, herbal accented barley and hints of dried fruit. The oak is chunky and lightly coffeed and begins to dominate.

Palate: Full with a corn-like character along with hints of burnt toffee, dried fruit, liquorice, prune and gritty wood tannins. A little inelegant, but showing a better balance than the nose.

Finish: Good length with toasty popcorn, toffee, bitter chocolaty spices and again that corn-like note.

Comment: Is this an American in sheep’s tartan? More than likely it’s been aged in heavily charred first fill American oak.

Score: 7.8