Taster

Nose: Really interesting earthy notes of marzipan to begin, then toasted tea cakes with sultanas and syrupy poached pears.

Palate: Pear and frangipane tart with thin-crust pastry and weaves of dry earthiness coming back. A hot spice is balanced out by sweet syrup.

Finish: Lingering finely chopped almonds, with a thread of earthy smoke running through it.

Comment: A really nicely balanced whisky, with the interplay of the nutty notes and delicate smokiness that runs throughout.

Score: 8.2

Taster

Nose: Tree bark, diesel, turned earth, stewed plums, wood smoke and roasting lamb. Rosemary and sage. Toffee sponge cake and charred fat.

Palate: Full. Hot and intense. Chewy blackberry, beef, coffee, and plum notes. Pipe tobacco. Calmed slightly by water, which draws out toffee sauce and intensifies the berry notes. Ginger and milk chocolate. With lots of water, raisins and peanut.

Finish: Long, hot and tingly. With water, some mint leaf and plum jam.

Comment: Tasty but mouth-numbingly hot, for which it loses points from me.

Score: 7.9