Taster

Nose: A soft and gentle starter this one, fresh baking aromas, ginger-laden dough, vanilla sugar and butter. Layers of buttered pastry, strawberry jam and fresh ginger.

Palate: Starts to be less gentle and moves to a more robust flavouring, stewed figs, medjool dates with walnuts. Barbeque roasted red chilli. A little meaty edge, roast pork.

Finish: Full on and rich, figs and vanilla custard with a zip of candied lemon peel at the end.

Comment: Save this one for when the year turns colder, will warm the cockles for sure.

Score: 7.6

Taster

Nose: Another shy one. After time there’s orange zest, soft madeira cake, and fruity Cognac as well.

Palate: Orange drizzle cake and more intensely fruity Cognac. Caramelised brown sugar, nuts, sultanas and raisins. Tingly baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Lotus Biscoff biscuits too.

Finish: A glass of Cognac tipped over a well-lit Christmas pudding.

Comment: One to sit back and savour.

Score: 7.9