Taster

Nose: Raisins, Madeira cake and ginger thins. Underneath this is a melange of fruits: baked apples, pineapple and strawberry. Perhaps a light, sweet soapiness.

Palate: A silky almost soapy texture, with blueberry muffin, and strawberry-flavoured toffee.

Finish: Burnt wood and more strawberry.

Comment: No water required, as this brought out a soapiness for me. A very satisfying old malt.

Score: 8.3

Taster

Nose: Mature notes cut with celery salt, sweet oak. Dried peach, musk, and coconut. Complex.

Palate: Good flow of flavours: Bounty bars, light cinnamon, then ginger, stewed rhubarb, clove and ripe fruits. There's a strawberry lift and some marzipan as well. Medium weight.

Finish: Long and elegant.

Comment: You'd never guess this was 35. Great life, balance and bags of character. A beauty.

Score: 8.3