Taster

Nose: Full on flaming Christmas cake here, the brandy has just been lit and the cake split open. Dark-skinned fruits abound, plums in port, blackcurrant jam and Medjool dates.

Palate: Those fruits come through first, then treacle and sweet dates, crumpets with golden syrup and a little cinnamon spice.

Finish: Slowly dried with a little cracked black pepper spice and redcurrant tang.

Comment: A nice, not-quite-sherry-bomb whisky that has plenty of balance between sweetness, the wood and fruits.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Spicy and floral. Saffron and curry leaf, corriander seed and muscovado sugar. Behind these heady aromas, there’s orchard fruit base notes, with plum wine and orange oil. Clove and glacé cherry bring up the rear.

Palate: Well rounded and full. The saffron and sugar, orange and plum come to the palate. There’s more syrupy sweeness in here also, with sugar and cinnamon baked apple.

Finish: Heady and long. Those apple notes linger.

Comment: Well balanced and showing complexity. Good work!

Score: 8.2