Taster

Nose: Soft, gentle and creamy, Fresh boiled sweetcorn. A little nail polish and a faint glue stick note. The oak comes to the fore, like walking into a cooperage on a hot day. The sweetness of brown sugar Kendal Mint cake and tempered with a slight mineral note.

Palate: Sweetness of the mint cake comes through. Orange juice and vanilla ice cream.

Finish: Long. The alcohol prickles and then all that sweetness comes flooding through.

Comment: A little water opens this out wonderfully. Time to switch on to grain folks.

Score: 8.7

Taster

Nose: How very civil. Starts gentle with a faint coconut and vanilla yoghurt note. Sweet with a welcome floral note to it. White grapes and lightly stewed pears.

Palate: Sweetness is a little richer than the nose; chocolate sauce, caramel and spicy cinnamon. Becomes a bit more fruity with something like a rum ‘n’ raisin ice-cream note.

Finish: Long, oak spice makes its presence known, but otherwise a subtle continuation of the palate.

Comment: The palate does some very exciting things and would be great as an introduction.

Score: 8.3