Taster

Nose: Malty with a floral note (meadow flowers). Toasted oatmeal. A touch of salty butter. On time displays richer aromas. Toffee, liquorice. Apple flan.

Palate: Sweet and smooth. Pear poached in syrup. Estery. Oak envelops fruit in a firm, dry and grippy veil, releasing spices.

Finish: Long, dry and spicy.

Comment: Surprisingly, water tones the oaky flavours down, bringing out more malty sweetness. Quite a self-indulgent dram.

Score: 8

Taster

Nose: Rich and slightly sweet though with a balanced oakiness. Walk in the woods: apple and violet, an old log cabin in the summer heat.

Palate: Though lighter than the nose suggests this has class. Leafy, almost mossy. Pine woods, violet again and a dusty rooty quality but sufficient sweetness to add depth and complexity.

Finish: Good length. Pomegranate.

Comment: This is a real jump in quality and shows great finesse.

Score: 8.3