Taster

Nose: Intensely perfumed, ripe summer fruits, bubble gum and honey melon? Evolving to show base notes of peat and more concentrated fruits.

Palate: Delicate to medium bodied. A gentle oiliness carries initial bursts of fruit to drier complexities.

Finish: Teasing, lingering, quite feminine until that Islay smoke kicks in.

Comment: An elaborate malt which enhances Bowmore's association with perfume. Good enough to wear!

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: Very big in both departments. Lots of recognisably claret-like fruit-and-cedar notes-and a powerful response from Bowmore smokiness.

Palate: Bowmore beats Bordeaux.

Finish: Toffeeish (more port-like) fruit fights back convincingly. Oak keeps the contestants apart. Finally a salty battle is won by the distillery character.

Comment: The fighter beat the boxer, but it was a wonderfully enjoyable contest.

Score: 9