Taster

Nose: Baked apple sponge cake sprinkled in cinnamon and doused with custard. A clear streak of wood varnish.

Palate: The initial impression of sweet vanilla custard and apple gives way to a distinctly green, herbal core. Plenty of heat, but add water and the heat dissipates, revealing a surprisingly creamy whisky with honeysuckle top notes.

Finish: Dry, with green hints, wood varnish and more of that vanilla.

Comment: I like the texture of this whisky neat, but comes into its own with water.

Score: 7.2

Taster

Nose: Vanilla custard, light floral honey. Plenty of sweet treats, custard cream biscuits, salted caramel and burnt toffee. Pears and grape juice, but never really gets going.

Palate: Dense enough texture, bringing flavour. Vanilla custard yet again, golden syrup, but with melon, grapefruit and gooseberries. Green apples and muscovado sugar.

Finish: Long, with a lot of heat from the wood that nicely balances out the sweetness.

Comment: Grain whisky can be very boring, but this one is fruity and classy fun.

Score: 7.6