Taster

Nose: Fruit wrestling with oak. Caramelised pineapple. Vanilla toffee. Cider cellar, rooty peat and mushroom.

Palate: Unexpected sharpness. Very peppery. Surprisingly dainty kippery smokiness. Gets a little smoother with water.

Finish: Sergeant Pepper in control. Slowly losing ground to a milder tone.

Comment: A loud lad whose tone needs softening.

Score: 7

Taster

Nose: Ever-changing. Intense, seaside aromas and dense peaty chimney-like smokiness. Dry bracken, hazelnut, sugared almond with lifted fragrant notes: Orange/kumquat, lemon zest.

Palate: Immediate smoke. Vibrant and intense, the peat balancing citrus oils and spiciness. Savoury note.

Finish: Smoky with a little orange muscat.

Comment: Difficult to mark as the next sample will be totally different. A thing of fascination and warped genius.

Score: 8.3