Taster

Nose: Fruit salad: pineapple, apple, grapes and mango. After time there’s a lovely residual maltiness, biscuits. Jam tarts. Lemon curd. A drizzle of syrup. Suddenly floral – jasmine. Parma violets.

Palate: Fresh fruit is here, but there are more dried fruits layered: apricots and sultanas, sugared oranges. Pear drops. Madeira cake. Rice pudding.

Finish: Medium length, with honey and pears leading into a cinnamon and all spice end.

Comment: Really good whisky, with complexity from a number of angles. Delightful.

Score: 8.9

Taster

Nose: A little salty at first then comes caramel bars, chocolate coated raisins, hard candy raspberry flavoured sweets and wool blankets – reminiscent of a family car trip tucked in the back seat, headphones on. Warm buttered soda bread. A floral edge – daffodils and comfrey.

Palate: Hard candy, dried apricots, honey and the warm soda bread. Old boxing gloves and menthol.

Finish: Dries wonderfully, then goes all juicy. A salted edge.

Comment: Seriously big. A real bruiser, best tried neat for full effect.

Score: 8.8