Taster

Nose: Blackcurrant wine gums, black cherries in syrup, kiwi, ripe strawberry and a touch of unlit pipe tobacco. Dried figs and almond butter.

Palate: Medium-full. Raisins, fresh pear, fresh red apple, dried fig, milk chocolate, roasted almonds, cinnamon, cola and strawberry jam. Fruit loaf with butter. Tinned mandarin and grapefruit segments. Plum wine. Subtle candied citrus peels.

Finish: Medium-long. The fruit loaf fades to glacé cherry, then back to mandarin segments.

Comment: Mature and well-rounded, with little heat despite the ABV.

Score: 8.5

Taster

Nose: Rich and creamy fruit and nut milk chocolate bar, with chunks of dried fruits, candied peel, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Palate: A box of chocolates, with covered nuts, salted caramel truffles, chocolate-covered marzipan, and more of that nutmeg.

Finish: The marzipan note lingers, cut through by dried fruit and cinnamon spice.

Comment: Life is like a box of chocolates... and so is this whisky! It’s full of character, punchy but balanced.

Score: 8.2