Taster

Nose: Big, sherried nose: chocolate, charred fruits, that exotic rancio note, prune, beech, but cracked pepper, even some red berries, and a hint of smoke.

Palate: Fairly dry and slightly tannic, bitter chocolate and nuts. Like a palo cortado in intensity. Attractive floral notes save it from being swamped by sherry.

Finish: Dry, nutty with a bit of smoke.

Comment: Extremely well balanced for such a venerable creature. Still, you have to love sherried malts to love this.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: Complex, rich, opulent. Prunes, ceder, Vanilla burnt caramel, liquorice, rancio.

Palate: Sweet Oloroso. Sultanas, toasted walnuts, dark chocolate. Lusciously sophisticated flavours. Please, no water!

Finish: Teasing, enveloping, lingering.

Comment: So like an armagnac. Sherry at its best. At its peak. Why not with foie gras and a fig compote?

Score: 9