Taster

Nose: Quite closed, this isn’t giving a lot away. When it does it shows off freshly squeezed orange juice, some hints of clove and big vanilla tones.

Palate: The palate is soft and delicate, with some nice lavender notes and honeysuckle. It sits well and gives some real ginger towards the end.\n

Finish: Old-fashioned lemonade and some more honey notes.

Comment: Everybody needs good neighbours; they might help you drink a bottle of this.

Score: 8.2

Taster

Nose: Tight, grainy oak to start, but it opens to show a good depth of fragrant barley, wood spice, violets, oxidised fruit, peat and vanilla.

Palate: Full, barley with lashings of summer fruit, apricot and apple. A little tannic on the middle with some gritty spices but the oils and the vanilla oak balance.

Finish: Intense and herbal, quite mouth-watering with lingering gritty oak and vanilla.

Comment: Refreshing to see a well-matured Australian whisky that is not overpowered by sherry. I’ll drink to that!

Score: 8.5