Taster

Nose: Aromas of roasted nuts, pickled walnuts, cordite, cracked leather. Touches of resin and rubber.

Palate: Smoked nuts, oil, leather. Generous. Fairly tannic but has enough sweetness to carry.

Finish: Coffee and smoke.

Comment: Big European oak influence. A little dry but good.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Dried fruits, some rubber, sherry, lacquer, warm putty.

Palate: Burning timber, peat, dry sherry, mouth-coating oiliness.

Finish: Long and quite pungent, more smoke.

Comment: A big beast of a Port Ellen, nicely caught before the sherry-wood tipped it over the edge.

Score: 8.8