Taster

Nose: Big and perfumed: dried lavender, honey, cake mix, black cherry and rye pepperiness.

Palate: Huge, heavy and oily, then the acidic rye blasts its way in like Jesse James and takes control souring things up and giving a powerful mouthful that balances sweet and savoury beautifully.

Finish: Long with wonderful balance.

Comment: A classic big-boned style that gets maximum extraction of flavours.

Score: 8.5

Taster

Nose: Molasses. Hickory. Briar. Herbal, tea-like, rye notes.

Palate: A powerful whiskey. Spicy rye against a big corn background. Some malt, too.

Finish: Vanilla. Spiced rum. Charred oak.

Comment: The wildness of 101, tempered with the extra rye, makes for a very distinctive whiskey.

Score: 8