Taster

Nose: Deep, dark and resinous, bow rosin, Olorosso sherry, dunnage warehouses, leather armchairs, boot dubbin, box of matches, antique boxes, gentle tobacco note too.

Palate: So much dark fruit, huge intense notes, blueberries and blackberries. Fizzy cola bottles, liquorice root, parma violets. Very floral in time.

Finish: Drying, astringent but still got a good spice kick. A little oak showing as well.

Comment: A venerable whisky but the oak is showing signs of taking over command.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Crushed hazel and Brazil nuts, a slight swimming pool note, a little sun cream (where is this coming from?) some spiced blood orange and do I detect a faint whiff of peat smoke... so faint, it's almost like vanilla pipe tobacco.

Palate: Intensely dry, with some bitter chocolate, a little lavender, marzipan and cola cube sweets.

Finish: Orange zest, some dark Seville orange marmalade and a ton of oak round out this whisky, falling just short if its fifth decade.

Comment: Not without merit, but just not quite as exciting, or engaging as the previous whiskies.

Score: 7.9