Taster

Nose: Wedding cake, hicory and some rubbery sulphur. With a little time and water ginger, barley wine and some more woody notes come out.

Palate: An oily texture, with sweet ginger flavours, aniseed and dried apricot but drying out very quickly with lots of wood.

Finish: Tannic and drying.

Comment: This must have been a very fresh cask, as the woody tannins are very prevalent for one so young.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Mellow and heavily sherried. Calf leather, tarragon, spice cupboard and then an oxidised nuttiness cut with scented fruit. Palo cortado. Dried fruits, cooked dates. Care for a sherry vicar?

Palate: Dense and tannic with lots of sherried notes. Fairly tannic but there's a sweet undertow and a hint of malt. Big and chewy.

Finish: Long, slightly perfumed.

Comment: The balance is just tipping in favour of the cask. Glad this was bottled now.

Score: 8