Taster

Nose: Pepper, toasted oak, vanilla pod, dried cranberry, and cherry. Buttered popcorn, and also creamed corn. Toasted coconut, unshelled walnut, spicy stem ginger, and a hint of elderflower cordial.

Palate: Medium-full. Roasted corn and cornflake cereal. Wholewheat toast with peanut butter and raspberry jelly. Cherry boiled sweets with menthol, and dark chocolate-coated fresh red cherries.

Finish: Medium-long, on black cherry and more peanut butter.

Comment: Delicious, complex, and well balanced, with great cocktail potential.

Score: 8.4

Taster

Nose: Perfumed, powdery, and beautifully grain-y. Lilac, orange blossom, mandarin, chalk, steamed milk, corn bread, butter-tossed popcorn, pear drop, gooseberry jam, and dried lemon. Freshly dumped bourbon barrel.

Palate: Medium bodied. A little feisty at first but calms quickly on the palate. Lemon and lime sherbet zing, mandarin juice, and toffee popcorn. Moderately floral and grassy. Orange zest, too.

Finish: Long. Sour citrus fades slowly and sweet vanilla biscuit emerges with time.

Comment: A real zinger.

Score: 8.4