Taster

Nose: Heavy wood influence hits immediately. Leather, pipe smoke, Armagnac like (prune nut and earth).

Palate: A sweet start, the (tannic) wood puts a grip on things pretty quickly but there's still some attractive sweet honey notes/apple sponge in centre.

Finish: Ginger then roses and spice.

Comment: It's more Jerez than Islay. I can't help feeling this would have been a cracker a few years ago.

Score: 7.5

Taster

Nose: Smoke melding with fresh sea breezes. Could that be the puffer leaving for Glasgow?

Palate: Rich, creamy body. Fresh flavours. Unusually estery. Ginger toffee. Becoming nutty.

Finish: Dusty. Spice-shop. Long and warming.

Comment: The blood-orange hue suggests that this Bunnahabhain will in all senses be more colourful than the gentle 12 Years Old we normally encounter. Sun-dried whisky?

Score: 8