Taster

Nose: Grainy, then buttered popcorn. Redcurrants. Floral peonies and sweet red roses. Wood influence here, pencil shavings and fresh planed oak. Toasted wood as well.

Palate: Instantly spicy with hot chilli, then wood tannins. Refresher sweets, red and black fruit pastilles. Some coffee grinds and a meaty edge.

Finish: Sweet with those spices taking control and drying things.

Comment: A liquid form of the Miles Davis’ So What, with the grain as the smooth bass line and the spices taking the horn section.

Score: 8.1

Taster

Nose: Turkish delight and vanilla fudge, then gooseberry syrup, a floral note of peonies, and blue bubblegum. Red cherry leads and fresh hay meadows follow, water brings out celery salt, cola cubes and big cinnamon spice.

Palate: Very fiery for the ABV, but then cherry pie and demerara sugar, honeydew melon and runny honey. The cola cubes and cinnamon continue through.

Finish: Very long and very hot and cinnamon spice lingers.

Comment: Like eating cherry pie on a picnic in a wildflower meadow.

Score: 7.9