Taster

Nose: Concentrated cranberry, raspberry and cherry. Dusty dunnage. Old polished oak. A whiff of balsamic. Rancio. Fresh mushroom. Peppermint leaf. Cut, browning grass. Shortbread. Butterscotch.

Palate: Medium-full. Mirrors the nose, with those concentrated red fruits. Pleasingly sour Amarena cherry, chocolate fudge cake, whipped cream, and cinnamon. Christmas mincemeat pies. A little musty, oily funk in the background, with rosemary.

Finish: Medium. On toffee and cherry.

Comment: Reminiscent of an old-school gentleman distiller. A real character.

Score: 8.9

Taster

Nose: Spicy: clove, black pepper, mustard seed, and ginger. Rye bread and salted butter. Roasted sweet potato. Vanilla bean paste. Hints of crunchy crème brûlée top, lychee, and Turkish delight.

Palate: Medium-full. Ginger cake, honeyed figs, and chopped dates, then tropical notes of banana, papaya, and mango. Dark muscovado sugar, malt loaf, old leather, and steak with peppercorn sauce.

Finish: Medium, on sticky toffee and date pudding.

Comment: A truly delightful harmony of flavours, enhanced by a drop of water.

Score: 8.6