Taster

Nose: Phenolic and fruity. Demerara sugar, hint of molasses. Kippers on toasted bread. Ozonic. Malty sweetness.

Palate: Thick, syrupy, sweet and oily. Tar sweets, liquorice. Opening up on spices. Malty crunchiness.

Finish: Dry, fruity, spicy.

Comment: An interesting combination of fruit and peat. They don't mingle, they keep playing hide and seek. More complexity than it appears. Water makes it caressing.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: Initially sweet with plenty of American oak (vanilla, cream) then comes tinned apricot, something akin to a buttered scone.

Palate: Very smoky, much more than the nose suggests. An explosive peaty attack which is overlaid with intriguing floral notes: tar and blossom. Oily, yet sweet, rich but fragrant.

Finish: Iodine. Black grapes.

Comment: While the oak has grip the whole package has great balance. Excellent.

Score: 8.3