Taster

Nose: A beautifully light vanilla sponge cake, with homemade vanilla icing. Then thick honey spread on white toast, with an earthy undertone.

Palate: The vanilla sponge notes have become more like clotted cream. Then come coconut macaroons with a dark chocolate base and kick of stem ginger cutting through.

Finish: Lovely and lingering with vanilla shortbread and peated earthy dry notes rounding it out.

Comment: Its nuances may be delicate, but what it’s doing is truly lovely. A comforting sip.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: Cocoa, butter icing, coconut water, lily pollen, root ginger, butterscotch and golden syrup. Ripe mango and pineapple, banana fritter and steak fat.

Palate: Full, creamy and fat, like marrow over roasted pear and pineapple. Lots of rich milk chocolate, some tobacco, candied ginger, and saffron. Gentian, rose and nougat packed with pistachio. With time, violet. Some sage and lemon sherbet. A hint of mandarin and lime zest.

Finish: Long. Violet plays out with the mango, cinnamon sugar and nutmeg.

Comment: A world-class spirit.

Score: 8.8