Taster

Nose: At first it’s chai tea latte, definitely with extra milk. A hint of liquorice chewable sweets appearing, with gentle oak spice.

Palate: A little less milk, a little more toasty sweetness. French toast with icing sugar, then liquorice and peppermint tea.

Finish: Rounds out with a sea salt chocolate note.

Comment: It strikes me as a friendly whisky, not too challenging after a long day, but intriguing enough to keep my interest.

Score: 8.3

Taster

Nose: Ground cumin, potpourri, cola cube, blackberry liqueur, cherry jam, dried lime, some caramel.

Palate: Hot, with medium-light body. Intense allspice and black olive. Bitter black tea tannins. More blackberry and cherry, with some delicate caramel, and a touch of tarragon.

Finish: Short and ephemeral. Gently drying, on green apple skin and cucumber.

Comment: A beautiful, complex nose is not quite matched by the palate, which has some complexity but has not yet fully integrated.

Score: 7.7