Taster

Nose: Bitter chocolate and fudge pralines. Toasted nuts with late salt and pepper.

Palate: Astonishingly toffeeish, then toasty. The distracting richness of these flavours introduces a shock of contrast when the seaweed and characteristic volcanic flavours suddenly erupt.

Finish: An explosion in a gale.

Comment: Sensational (both literally and figuratively).

Score: 9

Taster

Nose: Sulphury, deep and honeyed with a peppery character and traces of wet labrador.

Palate: Bursting with prickling sweetness and teasingly reticent to subside. Eventually the pepperiness allows an infusion of soft peatiness to infiltrate.

Finish: Gently and soothingly fades with all characteristic intact.

Comment: Talisker bigger though slightly calmer than ever. And rather more-ish.

Score: 9