Taster

Nose: Chocolate truffle, nutmeg, cinnamon buns and black vanilla pods. A touch of ginger cake. Strong and heavy.

Palate: Crème brûlée topping, drying oak and a big hit of bluebird toffee. Packed full of flavour, if not a little too dry.

Finish: Long and lingering wood.

Comment: An okay example of extreme oak maturation which has resulted in a rather too strong and dusty offering this time.

Score: 7.8

Taster

Nose: Dark chocolate, cinnamon bark, toasted wood and bonfire toffee, with a touch of malt extract. Dark and then, a little bit darker. Like a tunnel.

Palate: Hot, and in need of a little water, then the liquorice notes begin to ring true, some dark leaf tobacco, cocoa powder and burnt butter.

Finish: Resonant and dry, like a powerful, heavy ring gauge after dinner cigar.

Comment: Blimey, this has an eartiness like no other. I bet it pairs superbly with the aforementioned cigar. One for the dark days of winter contemplation.

Score: 8.2