Taster

Nose: Closed and quite distant aromas: lemon barley water, bitter lemon, light oak, alcohol. Water doesn't improve it but does reveal some sulphury notes akin to a gym changing room.

Palate: Showing more weight. Candied fruits. Becomes tart and acidic after a sweet start. Fizzy.

Finish: Light malt, sherbert.

Comment: The lack of interaction between oak and spirit makes this hard to get excited about.

Score: 7.3

Taster

Nose: Poached pears, melon and lychees, along with vanilla. Attractive. With water there is more floral character, like standing in a florists trying to choose what to get her.

Palate: Lightly toffeeish, with melon and Jelly Babies.

Finish: Brown bread maltiness.

Comment: Balanced, attractive and a rightdown-the-middle Speysider. An anytime dram.

Score: 7.8