Taster

Nose: Hard wood seasoning in a warm shed. Opening a log burner to gently smoking timber. Plum jam on dark rye bread. Vanilla pods. Old-school gingerbread cake.

Palate: Sweetens up nicely, moving into plum pudding, bread and butter pudding and walnut whips. Hints of stewed black tea too.

Finish: Doesn’t hang about, dries really swiftly leaving those black tea notes and a hint of sherry-soaked raisins.

Comment: If you like your whiskey woody, this is for you. I just think it lacks some character and punch to it.

Score: 7.4

Taster

Nose: Black treacle and heavy oak char from the barrel. There’s some dried raisins and stewed figs with a hint of clove and vanilla though it’s quite woody.

Palate: Dessert-like with baked apples and sultanas spiked with black pepper and anise, topped with a dollop of vanilla custard. It’s a tad dry.

Finish: Dry and tannic with tonnes of liquorice.

Comment: Has this been matured in small casks, or with a heavy char? Either way, the cask has overtaken the distillate. It’s not as well balanced as I’d like.

Score: 7.3