Taster

Nose: Grassy, slightly spirit. Lemon balm, light mint. Lemonade. Quite estery and light. Vanilla comes swirling around. Light smoke. Water brings out fruit and some sweetness.

Palate: Sweet at first then getting sherbety. Cream soda. Smokier on the palate.

Finish: Dry, smoky, nearly sooty with some astringency as well.

Comment: That whisky needs a dash of water to find its balance. Refreshing, you would have expected more complexity from the age but not unpleasant.

Score: 7.6

Taster

Nose: Light citrus notes, caster sugar, ice cream floats. Plenty of vanilla and soft fruits, pears, mango, lychee. A distant coal fire.

Palate: That coal tar note has intensified and deepened. Still bags of creamy oak and vanilla, a melon and Parma ham note too with ginger.

Finish: Sooty and dry like a fireplace the day after.

Comment: Lovely balance between sweet vanilla and the smoke.

Score: 8.1