Taster

Nose: Earthy, smoke with an Oloroso sherry overtone, hot buttered crumpets by an open fire.\n

Palate: Spicy Dominican cigars, underpinned with barbecued pineapple and green herbs.\n

Finish: Earthy and herbaceous. Basil and thyme.\n

Comment: A little too ‘green’ for me, it could do with some more body, but the flavours are good.

Score: 8.5

Taster

Nose: Green apple, white pepper, herbs, medicinal peat and iodine. Underpinned by some baked, sour fruit, coffee, tar and edgy grain notes.

Palate: Sweet and juicy barley before the sweet smoke, iodine, medicinal peat and coffee arrives. Tarry on the middle but the sweetness of the spirit balances. \n

Finish: Long, salty, grainy, herbal, medicinal and peaty. Drying, but the late arrival of oils leave the mouth coated in a lovely sooty, smoky residue.

Comment: The Islay component is quite dominating but there is a lovely balancing sweetness from the other malt components.

Score: 8.3