Tastes

A great nose, raw sugar sprinkled over sherry-soaked cream, shredded dried cherries drizzled with toffee (once the alcohol sting wears off), rather oily. A jammy, rich palate really shines here, very sweet, fresh cherries, orange marmalade, overripe bananas, raisins and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper and allspice. A medium finish, dry with plenty of pepper and spice, whipped cream, dried fruits and a lovely warmth that takes time to dissipate, maybe slightly marred by a slight bitterness just at the very end?

The nose is surprisingly sweet, vanilla, BBQ sauce, dried apricots, a few drops of iodine and, since this is Islay juice, drenched in loads of vegetal peat. A savoury, salty palate of white pepper, burnt espresso shot but also sweet, a dash of charred vanilla and dried apricots. A medium finish, with iodine, smoke and salty, reminiscent of mezcal.

On the nose, chocolate, lemon infused raisins with a spray of salt and smoke. On the palate, cashews, a dash of honey, minty, fresh fruit and a very creamy mouthfeel that wraps up with a little savoury spice. A delicious, if somewhat short finish of smoke, vanilla, oak and salty.

Straw coloured. Green apples, lemon and a little oak on the nose. Gentle and creamy on the palete, vanilla, honey, cinnamon and a little lemon. A rather short finish of lemon and honey. Amazing bang for your buck.

A beautifully sherry nose, oodles of dried fruit, burnt orange peel, candied lemons, a dash of spice. The palate carries on this theme, rather dry, orange peel, lemon tang, sherry and a little spice and heat towards the end. Medium finish, citrus, nutmeg, raisins, dry and tannic.

On the nose cinnamon, stewed apples, malt barely, earthy peat and a hint of brown sugar. On the palate, malt and fruit but with a strange smoked meatiness to it that goes really well and just a spray of caramel. A medium finish, a little spice as the peat vanishes, leaving just some residue sherried sweetness.

Pale straw colour, a real mix of lemon and very gentle smoke on the nose, with the faintest hint of barley sugar and menthol. On the palate, lemon, citrus zest, somewhat minerally and a white pepper heat towards the end that dries the mouth. Medium finish, more of that lemon but leaving a dry heat as it disappears.

A really fragrant, beautiful nose, brine, peat, BBQ sauce and a hint of freshly cut chillies. Almost feels thin but not for long, peat , salty, lemon peel, black pepper, hot and that oloroso influence of dried fruits creeping towards the end. Medium finish, salty, peat, vanilla and black pepper.

On the nose orange, toffee, damp earth, very nutty with a hint of smoke. A beautiful palate, very rich and dry, cereal, salted chocolate with an underlying funk, pepper and cinnamon. Lovely oily, medium finish that tapers out with oak, vanilla and spice and salt.