Taster

Nose: Oily and a little fishy with gritty oak and violets. Honey balances the oak and becomes mature and sawdusty. Perfumed honey asserts; ginger root, liquorice and herbs appear.

Palate: Soft and mature with barley and oodles of luscious honey and sawdusty oak. Green apple and citrus comes through to balance the dusty tannins and honey. \n

Finish: Long and salty with the fleshy fruit and honey lingering along with a light mocha note. \n

Comment: Beautifully balanced. Gritty oak and coastal notes hint at an Islander but the oak and honey says Speyside. Grantown-on-sea?

Score: 8.5

Taster

Nose: Slightly perfumed vanilla and grain. Freshly polished wood, sweet and savoury of black liquorice; treacle and a little ginger syrup.

Palate: Warm from the start, with tropical fruit notes quickly followed by smoother, but dry flavours of wood. Notes of black pepper, lemon, and a little celery. \n

Finish: Short, light, and savoury. Woody, but I’m reminded of American biscuits with salted butter, creamy lemon, and dried papaya. A warmth akin to ginger.\n

Comment: A great example of how tropical and savoury flavours combine to produce an easy-to-sip whisky.

Score: 8.3