Taster

Nose: Sweet, fruity honey and apricots on an old silver spoon, with a floral edge of orange blossom and lavender. Chocolate shortbread and malted barley.

Palate: Medium-bodied and smooth, with a pleasingly chocolate core, with raisins, almonds and porridge oats. Orange oils and dates linger.

Finish: The smoothness becomes drier and more grainy, while that chocolate plays on and on.

Comment: Delicious, easy drinking and well balanced – the sort of dram you return to again and again.

Score: 8.7

Taster

Nose: Floral and delicate at first, rose and sandalwood, then the grain cuts in. Fresh cut barley fields, the smell of mashing in almost soft pretzels and salt, sweet honey notes.

Palate: Plenty of malt notes here, Ovaltine drink, orange segments dipped in dark chocolate. Barbecue corn with mayo too.

Finish: Pencil shavings and chilli flakes abound, it just keeps going.

Comment: Very straight forward whiskey and well balanced, goes in one direction and does it well.

Score: 7.8