Taster

Nose: A lovely earthiness upfront. Stodgy baking note like bread pudding, with currants and candied orange peel. Hints of caramelised banana and hazelnut. With time, rye bread and black pepper.

Palate: Full. Toffee sauce, baked plum, blackcurrant cordial, and raspberry jam. The rye-like spiciness remains, with black pepper, roasted coffee bean, and hints of woody mushroom and cocoa powder.

Finish: Long. Fresh with grassy, almost aniseed spice, and a hint of dark chocolate.

Comment: This is deliciously complex, with a lovely weight to it.

Score: 8.4

Taster

Nose: Marzipan, ricotta, and candied orange, underpinned by pencil shavings and white sage. A waft of cherry brandy and pine needles, then peach candies, toffee popcorn, and desiccated coconut. Under it all, marshmallow and vanilla custard.

Palate: Full bodied. Hard toffee, ripe mango and pineapple, then milk chocolate and vanilla cookie. The peach is back – balancing sweet and sour well.

Finish: The peach note asserts itself nicely, before fading to hard caramels.

Comment: This evolves nicely on the palate. A solid dram!

Score: 8.3