Taster

Nose: Buttery popcorn. A winter fruit compote of baked peaches, stewed apricots, plums and rhubarb. Well worn leather like a tobacco pouch with aniseed and rye emerging.

Palate: Young and fresh (virgin oak?) with wine gums and Turkish delight sweetness. Savoury cereal notes of Shredded Wheat and oaty flapjack. Blackcurrants in the hedgerow with \ntoasted grist.

Finish: Spritzy and then drying.

Comment: Assertive, the spirit isn’t being pushed around by the oak.

Score: 7.9

Taster

Nose: Wow – a waft of vanilla ice cream, covered in hot fudge sauce. The sweetness turns into creamy coffee, condensed milk and vanilla essence, as well as fresh toasted oak.

Palate: Quite mouth coating and viscous. The coffee notes lead first, with a return of a slightly bitter vanilla note, some dark chocolate and earthy tobacco. Strangely at odds with the sweet nose.

Finish: Cocoa and dark coffee leave a lengthy lasting impression.

Comment: All sweetness and light on the nose, but with a darker more complex heart. Well played.

Score: 8.4