Taster

Nose: A nose of two halves… it’s deep, treacle and Marmite, with a Twiglet tinge; and simultaneously light, with lemon and lime citrus, and bright florals. Some tar too. Intriguing.

Palate: Deeper flavours dominate, with everyone’s favourite yeast extract mixing with beery IPA. Green & Black’s dark chocolate studded with charcoal.

Finish: Numbing Szechuan pepper and a drying texture, along with cocoa powder.

Comment: A good weight to it, yet with lighter frills. A bit like a rugby player wearing a tutu.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: A layer of gentle peat fades, revealing a creamy, yeasty, almost Champagne-like quality. Lots of citrus and vanilla. Wet moss, grassy, slightly herbal bay leaves, sage?

Palate: The smoke is ashier, more prickly. Straw, grassy again, with hops and malted barley. The youthful energy of new-make spirit, more citrus, and buttermilk.

Finish: It’s short, peppery, oily and ashy. Apples and grapefruit show eventually to balance.

Comment: I don’t think it’s quite the finished thing, but what’s here is good.

Score: 7.3