Taster

Nose: At first it teetered between savoury and sweet with the latter taking over. Cherry Heering, maple syrup on pancakes and cinnamon sticks. Pink Lady apples and sweet hickory sauce with a waft of incense sticks and sumac.

Palate: Grippy and hot with out of the oven pastry case and plum jam filling. More exotic sandalwood, violet, menthol, aniseed and angelica.

Finish: Intense and grippy, gentle spice with time and a coating finish.

Comment: A complex weave, this takes water and time to unravel.

Score: 8.2

Taster

Nose: From lightness, straight into a deep dark tunnel. Powerful, with a heavy, peppery rye note, malted toast, spicy black tobacco leaves and turned earth. Proper autumn stuff.

Palate: Beastly on the palate, with rich dark chocolate, cinnamon, sour cherries and more tobacco. At 60% it will give your gums a proper work out. Water brings out a leathery note.

Finish: Dry, powerful and immediately appealing. Well defined strength creates a \nlasting impression.

Comment: This one is for American whiskey purists.

Score: 8.6