Taster

Nose: Feel the burn from that ABV… at once sweet (fruit cake characters of hazelnuts, walnuts, dates, nutmeg, ginger) and earthy (coffee grounds, forest floor). Sharp redcurrants at the back.

Palate: Sweet and nutty at first. Reminds me of golden syrup cake, with a zing of lime peel. Dried chilli flakes and pencil shavings bring some austerity towards the end.

Finish: Coffee and walnut cake, like your grandma used to make. This one likes to linger.

Comment: It’s a cake face-off at the local baking competition.

Score: 8.2

Taster

Nose: Mellow vanilla fudge, with oranges, mandarin and pear juice. Fruit fades to leave malted barley, hay barns and hazelnuts. Vinous, white wine, with sandalwood, dried hops and syrup.

Palate: Marmalade, with dried apricots and vanilla. Cloves, pepper, and then an underbelly of cereal notes. Water takes a lot away, little that opens up.

Finish: Long and orangey with plenty of black pepper. Too tannic at times.

Comment: A bit of a rogue. Flavours are well expressed, but don’t come together perfectly.

Score: 7.8