Taster

Nose: Great charm and complexity: apple, malt, flowers, bracken, spice, sawn oak, dunnage. More sweet oak with water. Sophisticated stuff.

Palate: Nutty to start, then bursts into life with chocolate, cut flowers, cinnamon and mandarin.

Finish: Crisp, biscuity.

Comment: All very precise with a polite procession of flavours. \"No please, you go first. \" \"Why thank you old boy. \"

Score: 8.3

Taster

Nose: Flapjack made with treacle. French toast dusted with cinnamon. Ginger. Clean, appetising.

Palate: Dusty. Spicy, then dark chocolate. Developing white chocolate. Vanilla ice-cream. Rum and raisin.

Finish: Crisp. Belgian wafers.

Comment: Luxurious and sweet, but background is gently dry. Deftly balanced and sophisticated, as ever.

Score: 8.8