Taster

Nose: Pretty spiritous from the off. Peach and apricot, pencil eraser, blue playdough, floral sweet peas and geraniums – a little ‘body bath’ synthetic.

Palate: Very drying, but sweet and enticing. More peach in syrup, with slightly sweet menthol and Love Heart sweets. Slightly yeasty, with some yoghurt notes and nutmeg and creamy custard. A lot of warmth.

Finish: Medium to long heat, with sweet cinnamon spice and honey.

Comment: This has a lot of potential; the spirit has character and signs of real complexity.

Score: 7.7

Taster

Nose: Young and a bit spirity. Celery and cucumber, with green apple and under-ripe cantaloupe. Icing sugar, plasticine, and oil paint.

Palate: A bit hot, but with lovely orchard fruit character. Cloudy apple juice, under-ripe plum, pear drop and heather honey.

Finish: Hot, sweet and medium-short.

Comment: Clean spirit with potential, but points were docked for immaturity. I really appreciate the showcasing of the spirit, but I feel it needs more time in the cask to really shine.

Score: 7.3