Taster

Nose: Plum pudding, dried fruit, black treacle, buttered smoked fish, gravalax pencil shavings and warm cornbread.

Palate: Marine notes, seaweed, sage and onion sausages, but there is sweetness\rin these savoury layers, sugared almonds and roast sweet potato.

Finish: Long, peated and pretty big.

Comment: Everything you would expect from a relatively old Lagavulin.

Score: 8.3

Taster

Nose: Big hit of TCP, salty aromas of a harbour-side and a little rubber. Oak appears through the bonfire smoke, then light caramel and some vineous notes.

Palate: More bonfires, oily peat and rich oak. Balanced by slightly burnt, caramelised sugar, earthy with fruity notes, dried apricots and prunes.

Finish: Rich and oily. Medicinal, smoky peat lingers.

Comment: Very easy to drink at this strength. A fabulous, deep and smoky whisky.

Score: 8.8