Taster

Nose: Just like raw Christmas fruit cake batter: grape brandy, candied citrus peels (particularly lemon), plump raisin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and even a touch of vegetable suet.

Palate: Light-medium. Fruit-cake character carries through with oily orange peel, a slight bitter vegetal note like pak choi, hints of soy sauce and tamarind, and a little hot tyre rubber.

Finish: Long and warm. Hints of orange blossom water and sweet chilli sauce.

Comment: An exciting flavour profile, but needs a drop of water to tame it.

Score: 7.9

Taster

Nose: Prickly on the nose. Raisins, toffee, cocoa powder, and blackberry jam.

Palate: Light-medium bodied, but with some real alcohol presence. Roasted chestnuts, Nutella (hazelnut), and rum baba. Brown sugar, black cherry, blackberry, and some orange zest oils.

Finish: Lemon and lime notes come to the fore, with icing sugar.

Comment: A lot going on here, but needs time to mellow.

Score: 7.6