Taster

Nose: Fresh oak, softened with sherry.

Palate: Full of flavours, and such a beautifully balanced, rounded whiskey: oaky, fudgy, buttery, with that Bushmills rosewater character.

Finish: A grainy, but more-ish, dryness.

Comment: Long one of my great favourites. In composition, it is the the simplest of blends, yet it demonstrates how malt can someimes be enhanced by a leavening of grain.

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: Multi-layered and seductive. The sherry is clean, medium sweet and a good foil for the malt and grain.

Palate: Amazingly soft. The grain ensures clarity and lightness, highlighted by peppery spice.

Finish: Long, spicy and grapefruity with some toasty, oaky notes.

Comment: One of the world's finer blends, though again showing more sherry character than before. Obviously some extremely fine quality sherry casks have been introduced for this vatting.

Score: 8.5