Taster

Nose: Big, fat and sweet. Butter and raisins. Forms slowly with pineapple, stewed fruits, malted milk, coconut, cereal, cocoa, orange. Big (but balanced) oak.

Palate: Round and rich. Sweet dried fruits, brazil nut, coffee, soft malt, popcorn. Good grip. Oak in balance.

Finish: Long. Hazelnut.

Comment: Plenty of oak but the spirit holds its own. An extra dimension to the 10.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: A delicate waft of mashed banana and spice jars.

Palate: Soft gentle nuttiness, echoes of fortified wine.

Finish: Spirity.

Comment: Triple distilled whiskey drawn from bourbon, sherry and port wood...what a balancing act. It usually works a treat, but this time the elements are strangely out of kilter.

Score: 7.5