Taster

Nose: Quite closed: some lemon juice, wood shavings and golden syrup. Water brings soft stone fruit and hints of what’s in store.

Palate: The nose belies this whisky; it has a lovely rounded flavour and body. Peach, pear and clementine drizzled in golden syrup, warmed by the sun.

Finish: Nectarines, clementines and cinnamon with a smattering of numbing Sichuan pepper. The lingering impression is quite dry.

Comment: Disjointed nose, palate and finish, but pleasant nonetheless.

Score: 7.4

Taster

Nose: Malted barley, but once that fades things become almost too sweet: floral honey, sweet grape juice, stewed apples, old-fashioned roses, cranberries and vanilla sponge cake.

Palate: Echoes the nose, but the sweetness is ramped up. Baked apples dominate, with cinnamon, a heavy dose of vanilla, brandy. Malted barely. Fudge. Burnt toast.

Finish: Malted barley returns with warming oak to contain the sweetness. Simple.

Comment: Unbalanced and heavily sweet, more so than a single grain.

Score: 6.9