SMWS December 2022 Outturn Review


We're back with the December outturn review. The preview tasting this month featured 41 new bottles. Some of these reviews may be a touch shorter than usual as we had to get through all of these in around 2.5 hours...

There’s a lot of young bourbon casks this month, but mixed in with these are some interesting cask types and on paper it’s an above average outturn. A fair few of the Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits flavour profile releases feature just in time for Christmas. 

Not all the bottles releasing in December were available at the preview. There’s a new Danish .1 and a Port Charlotte being released that we were unable to try. We’ll attempt to update this article with details of these bottles and any others we missed over the next few days. Check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get an updates on the missing bottles and heads up on our other reviews.

As usual we’re giving every bottle a score. The score will be based on our initial impressions, and for full disclosure, we won’t be spending the time we usually would with a dram that we’d do a full review for, but we’re hoping you’ll find the scores useful.

For reference, our scale is...

  • 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
  • 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
  • 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
  • 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
  • 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
  • 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
  • 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
  • 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
  • 2 - Pour it out
  • 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.
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Onto the bottles...

1.274 - Glenfarclas Distillery

Name: A snow melt waterfall
Flavour Profile: Young & Spritely
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex bourbon barrel
ABV: 59.3%
Age: 10

Price: £69.50

On the nose we're getting lemon cough syrup, a slight smokiness from burnt toast, wood shavings, and a faint hint of menthol. The palate has vanilla bon bons... and raw spirit. Is this what turpentine tastes like? No sherried Glenfarclas for Christmas?!

Score: 5/10


4.331 - Highland Park Distillery

Name: Majestic!
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-PX butt
ABV: 57.7%
Age: 20

Price: £172.00

Honey, and heather. It’s got that highland park DNA even after the sherry cask influence. There’s also leather, charred wood, and the faintest hint of smoke in the background. The palate has a lovely texture, creamy with cinnamon, spiced custard, toffee sprinkled with Maldon salt, peach ice tea and a touch of Irn Bru on the finish. It’s good, and that’s coming from people who dislike HP.

Score: 8/10


4.337 - Highland Park Distillery

Name: The art of composure
Flavour Profile: Lightly Peated
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill bourbon barrel
ABV: 60.2%
Age: 14

Price: £81.80

Farmyard, grass, manure, the Highland Park style that we don’t love personally. More of that heather in the background, cooking oil, there is a fatty, oily thing going on with the nose. The palate has a nice texture, with lemon peel, hay bales, Demerara sugar and whisps of creamy smoke in the background. A little spicy but overall not bad.

Score: 7/10


6.60 - Macduff Distillery

Name: Lively as a ferret
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.1%
Age: 10

Price: £64.20

We’re reminded of a dusty wardrobe, cream puffs, it’s slightly sandy with a hint of citrus. The palate has prickly spice following into a mix of sweet and sour, with sugar syrup and sour cocktail mix. There’s sherbet, lemonade and Haribo cola bottles. It’s alright but nothing special.

Score: 6/10


9.238 - Glen Grant Distillery

Name: Lost in a world of afternoons
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill bourbon barrel
ABV: 58.2%
Age: 13

Price: £79.20

The nose has coconut shavings, light vanilla sponge cake, a fair whack of alcohol spice, and some grapefruit too. The palate starts sweet, but morphs into a spicy and woody mid palate. There’s some orchard fruits, touch of citrus but then ginger and pepper spice lingering through the finish. Nothing special and too expensive.

Score: 6/10


13.89 - Dalmore Distillery

Name: Amped-up!
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill charred red wine barrique with toasted heads
ABV: 57.0%
Age: 13

Price: £79.50

Burnt toffee, freshly ground coffee, and treacle. It’s quite rich and syrupy on the nose. The palate has cloves, cinnamon and cherry liqueur. It’s reasonably tannic, and a touch dry with a red kola-led finish. It’s not bad, and that’s coming from people who usually dismiss Dalmore. If it was a bit cheaper we’d go 7.5, but at this price it’s a 7/10

Score: 7/10


16.76 - Glenturret Distillery

Name: Peat-smoked porter
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: Refill recharred ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 63.0%
Age: 8

Price: £57.00

The nose has some charred pork with a 5-spice glaze, a touch of menthol, earthy peat, yeast and bacon jam. The palate follows with more of the meatiness, basil, grassiness, white pepper and chili spice lingering on the finish. The alcohol is a bit too powerful towards the end of the dram, and it finishes a bit too quickly.

Score: 6.5/10


23.80 - Bruichladdich Distillery

Name: Magical medicine
Flavour Profile: Oily & Coastal
Region: Islay
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 58.9%
Age: 13

Price: £135.00

It’s not half oily and coastal. Hessian rope, sea spray, the faintest hint of smoke and lovely barley sugars. The palate has a good texture, black pepper crusted brisket, sugar syrup, olive oil, overripe banana and stale sponge cake. It’s pretty good, it’s not overly sweet but has good balance. Unfortunately it’s obscenely expensive for a 13yo, but that’s today’s whisky market.

Score: 7/10


26.209 - Clynelish Distillery

Name: Vitamin sea
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.6%
Age: 9

Price: £58.70

Opens with a little candle wax, coastal breeze, and spearmint. The palate has banana, marzipan, salted caramel, Jamaican rum cake and a fair bit of ginger spice. It’s definitely one of the better Clynelish’s of the past few months, but still quite young and fiery. We’d have loved to have tried this in a few years

Score: 6.5/10


30.122 - Glenrothes Distillery

Name: A bootful of brazil nuts
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: Refill European oak puncheon with a heavy toast and medium char
ABV: 67.6%
Age: 9

Price: £59.00

Fairly alcoholic, fairly spicy. That 67% is showing up strong. We’ll pretend there’s cinnamon and ginger, but realistically you’re getting ethanol. The palate is.. firewater. There’s some sherry-like characteristics behind the alcohol which are pleasant but it’s just too strong. We dropped about 20ml of water in and it mellows somewhat, but it’s just too much.

Score: 5.5/10


37.137 - Cragganmore Distillery

Name: The midnight mood
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill shaved, toasted and recharred oloroso barrique
ABV: 57.9%
Age: 18

Price: £120.50

There’s an initial hit of sour cream and chives. It’s a little cheese and onion-y. There’s more savouriness than expected, sardines, whole meal bread, with not too much sweetness coming through. The palate is slightly metallic, but we’re getting some orange and chocolate appearing, then moving into bacon crisps and salted caramel. Some will love it, but it’s too savoury for us.

Score: 6/10


39.247 - Linkwood Distillery

Name: Skolebrød and Shirley Temple cocktails
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.6%
Age: 10

Price: £60.00

A touch grassy, waxed lemon rind and light woody aromas. It’s super tight, with not much coming through on the nose. The palate has strawberry jam, raspberries and a hint of blackcurrant. It’s one dimensional and overall pretty boring.

Score: 6/10


39.257 - Linkwood Distillery

Name: Bandits of the biscuit tin
Flavour Profile: Speyside
Region: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 60.8%
Age: 10

Price: £64.20

Icing sugar, green apple peel, green grapes, lime zest and more of those grassy notes coming through. Sweet on the palate, with some citrus appearing after, and Victoria sponge toward the finish. It has a nice mouthfeel, although is a touch spicy on the finish. The better of the two Linkwoods released this month. 

Score: 6.5/10


46.130 - Glenlossie Distillery

Name: Petrichordial
Flavour Profile: Juicy, Oak & Vanilla
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 59.6%
Age: 10

Price: £60.00

Pears, with a slight toasty/smokiness appearing too. Freshly chopped wood and a bit of rum soaked sponge cake. The palate has heaps of citrus, orange, lemon, lime, with chili heat finishing on minty mouthwash. We’re probably starting to sound like a broken record, but it’s not terrible but nothing to write home about.

Score: 6/10


48.153 - Balmenach Distillery

Name: Tropical muffin
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 60.5%
Age: 8

Price: £49.80

On the nose there’s white wine, yeast, oak spice, and simple citrus too. The palate has white wine vinegar and freshly squeezed oranges, with a disappointing mouthfeel. The alcohol feels a little unbalanced, it’s too spicy for us. There are better drams out there.

Score: 6/10


51.22 - Bushmills Distillery

Name: Shillelagh eau de vie
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: N.Ireland
Cask Type: 1st fill French oak Jamaican rum barrique
ABV: 57.3%
Age: 19

Price: £162.80

On the nose it’s oily, fruity, with foam bananas, brown sugar, treacle, and burnt wood in the background. As it sits in the the glass spent coffee grounds are appearing. The palate has raisins, prunes and is quite salty on the finish. It’s got a nice sweetness and we’re finding a bit of mango appearing too. It’s got a touch of rum funk, but we think it’s worked well with the spirit. It’s not cheap but it’s good.

Score: 7/10


53.427 - Caol Ila Distillery

Name: Stir-fried peat
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Islay
Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 60.5%
Age: 10

Price: £75.00

Peanuts, lots of nutty aromas coming through. Tarry rope, wet pebbles, salty sea water, damp clothes, and a dusty cupboard. The palate continues with the salty, nuttiness, reasonable sugary sweetness with lingering peat on the finish. A good Caol Ila, a touch dry for some, but others will favour that.

Score: 7.5/10


55.74 - Royal Brackla Distillery

Name: Crazy flamenco bravura
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead
ABV: 57.8%
Age: 15

Price: £98.30

Freshly brewed coffee, treacle, gingerbread men, and lots of Christmas aromas. The palate has a spice behind it, dry oak, bitter and tannic. It’s got a pleasant nose, unpleasant palate, and is far too expensive. Perfect example of why we usually prefer American oak sherry casks.

Score: 5.5/10


63.81 - Glentauchers Distillery

Name: Petrichor galore
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits 
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill Spanish oak oloroso butt
ABV: 66.3%
Age: 9

Price: £61.40

Fudge, toffee, and a fair amount of alcohol but there’s still a good bunch of aromas coming through. Caramel, chocolate and sultanas. The palate is warning, Christmas spice, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and some apricots too. There’s a caramel texture with a hint of marmite right at the end. Not too bad. We're giving it a 6.5, although maybe a 7 if we had more time with it. 

Score: 6.5/10


64.135 - Mannochmore Distillery

Name: Delightful bewilderment
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill custom toasted American & European oak hogshead
ABV: 59.2%
Age: 13

Price: £59.70

On the nose we're finding toasted tree bark, syrup, coconut, singed marshmallow, cherries in syrup and caramel sauce taken slightly too far. The palate has cinnamon, ginger, and rhubarb and custard sweeties. It’s nice but ends with a few too many bitter and woody notes.

Score: 6.5/10


66.226 - Ardmore Distillery

Name: Citrus-marinated beef and fruit kebabs
Flavour Profile: Peated
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.0%
Age: 24

Price: £179.80

Red kola, pine sap, treacle, slightly sour but feels quite well balanced on the nose. There’s also a hint of dry earth and twigs. The palate has strawberry jam, blackcurrants and a touch of cherry in the background. There’s a mellow smoke that presents more like dry earth. Overall it’s quite interesting and tasty. Shame about the price.

Score: 7/10


68.100 - Blair Athol Distillery

Name: The beat of a cinnamon drumstick
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill American oak ex-PX hogshead 
ABV: 56.9%
Age: 14

Price: £89.50

A promising nose with sticky toffee pudding, rich caramel, plump raisins with slightly toasted oak. The palate has ginger cake, allspice, molasses, and a bit too much alcohol for us. Someone forgot to flambé the brandy on the Christmas pudding. Disappointing as we had high hopes after the nose.

Score: 6/10


72.77 - Miltonduff Distillery

Name: The Moroccan porridge smuggler strikes again!
Flavour Profile: Light & Delicate
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 55.1%
Age: 9

Price: £55.80

Honey, apples, lime, pears, a bouquet of fruits. It’s tough to keep your nose in the glass, as there’s a fair amount of alcohol coming through. The palate has poached pears, roasted apples, chocolate orange, a slight nuttiness and zesty citrus. It has reasonable balance and the finish is a good length with appletiser and a touch of cinnamon spice lingering.

Score: 7/10


73.131 - Aultmore Distillery

Name: A waft of summer sensuality
Flavour Profile: Juicy, Oak & Vanilla
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.0%
Age: 10

Price: £64.20

It’s got a restrained nose with melon, vanilla fondant and a slight menthol note. The palate has a nice texture, with more vanilla, lots of woody oak and a mild earthiness. The menthol notes are also appearing on the palate, mostly towards the finish. Not for us. Hopefully this months other 73 is better.

Score: 6/10


73.152 - Aultmore Distillery

Name: Biscuitry. basketry and marquetry
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Dry 
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 56.4%
Age: 10

Price: £64.20

Red apples with a touch of toffee coating, Frosties cereal, melon, sawdust, jackfruit. The palate is quite sweet, but with a tannic, drying sensation that makes the cheeks pucker. Again, we’re finding a fair bit of mint, icing sugar and green tea. We're not choosing a favourite here.

Score: 6/10


93.190 - Glen Scotia Distillery

Name: Tobacoo-tinned fish
Flavour Profile: Oily & Coastal
Region: Campbeltown
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 59.8%
Age: 8

Price: £62.00

Minty toothpaste, a little charcoal, icing sugar, cold sea air. The palate continues on the toothpaste path, mouthwash, minty fresh breathe, mojitos.. you can see a theme here. We love Glen scotia, but the last few heavily peated expressions have been much better. If you like mint you can’t go wrong with this though.

Score: 6.5/10


94.33 - Fettercairn Distillery

Name: Boozy pears and sherry trifle 
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet 
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 56.5%
Age: 13

Price: £79.20

Good start on the nose with almond croissants, marzipan, freshly baked bread and apple pie or apple turnover. The palate has lots of cherry bakewell, pastry, and marzipan. It’s got a very ginger spice-led finish, but it’s still pretty darn good. We’re knocking it down slightly for the price.

Score: 7/10


95.60 - Auchroisk Distillery

Name: Deep as the Marina Trench
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits 
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill American oak ex-PX hogshead
ABV: 58.3%
Age: 14

Price: £85.80

Savoury, ketchup, sweet tea, rum and coke. There’s a pepperiness here too, along with a touch of Armagnac sweetness and spice coming through. The palate is a little thin with a cracked black pepper finish. Cinnamon sugar syrup, and nutmeg. Overall it’s a bit meh. Maybe with some more time and air it will improve, unfortunately we're up against it today...

Score: 6/10


95.69 - Auchroisk Distillery

Name: Potions from the garden
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: Re-charred brandy American oak
ABV: 64.7%
Age: 11

Price: £65.80

On the nose it’s a touch mustard-y, white peppercorns, slightly buttery and dusty but overall quite restrained on the nose. The palate is surprisingly fruity, with tinned pineapple, apricots and brown sugar. There’s a nice sweetness riding through the decent length finish. It’s not bad, just a little uninteresting.

Score: 6.5/10


96.39- Glendronach Distillery

Name: Summer holidays
Flavour Profile: Juicy, Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 58.5%
Age: 12

Price: £72.00

Good start as the nose opens with chocolate covered marzipan, almonds, lime zest, and a slightly creaminess. The alcohol is well integrated on the nose. The palate on the other hand is a little flat, chewy oak, white pepper, and a touch of tart raspberry purée. It’s got a medium length finish with lots of spice. A little disappointing.

Score: 6/10


100.38 - Strathmill Distillery

Name: Mulchy squelchy
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
ABV: 56.0%
Age: 12

Price: £69.90

We’re getting meaty oloroso and light herbal notes. Alongside this, we're getting relatively balanced alcohol, Christmas cake and slightly artificial sweetness. The palate is a little flat and uninteresting, there’s sponge cake with syrup, Caramac bars and oak spice. Not particularly inspiring.

Score: 6/10


108.56 - Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery

Name: Supper on a puffer
Flavour Profile: Lightly Peated
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fil ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 61.0%
Age: 10

Price: £60.00

On the nose we're getting singed marshmallows, iodine, sour and earthy peat. There’s balsamic vinegar and slightly-off fish. The palate has olive oil, more fresh lemon juice with a finish that ends too soon. It’s a little briny too, like tuna from a can. It’s fine, just nothing special.

Score: 6.5/10


108.61 - Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery

Name: Heather smoked rocky road
Flavour Profile: Lightly Peated
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.4%
Age: 10

Price: £60.00

A restrained nose with apple, butterscotch, olive oil and earthy yet mellow peat. The palate is quite sour with white balsamic. It’s also oily with a fair bit of bourbon cask influence. It’s a touch bit thin, but the balance and alcohol integration on the palate is good.

Score: 6.5/10


112.98 - Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin) Distillery

Name: Vin de custard
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Sweet
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogshead
ABV: 60.3%
Age: 13

Price: £69.20

On the nose we're finding gasoline, furniture polish, Loch Lomond funk. Are we sure this is Inchmurrin? There’s a hint of chocolate, white wine vinegar and carpenters workshop. The palate has a sherbetiness on the finish, but is primarily woody and dry. Doesn’t taste like it’s 60%, but has a good mouthfeel. Better on the palate for us. 6.5/10 but some will like it more. 

Score: 6.5/10


113.66 - Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) Distillery

Name: Rose petals, ice-cream and birthday cake
Flavour Profile: Juicy, Oak & Vanilla
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.6%
Age: 8

Price: £69.00

On the nose there’s a bit of a sour funk, plums, and a fair whack of alcohol. The palate has cherries, plums, chocolate ganache and chewy sweeties. There's too much alcohol taking over from the mid palate onwards. There’s some typical vanilla from the cask but again, nothing too exciting or special.

Score: 6/10


115.27 - Knockdhu (AnCnoc) Distillery

Name: Compounded interest
Flavour Profile: Spicy & Dry
Region: Speyside
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 57.4%
Age: 12

Price: £75.00

Lots of fruits, pears, strawberries, quince, and icing sugar, all quite subtle yet balanced. The palate has more of those fruits, a lovely sugary sweetness but ends with more of a bitter, dry wood. It’s one of the better bourbon casks, and we’d go with more of a spicy and sweet profile rather than spicy and dry.

Score: 7/10


128.25 - Penderyn Distillery

Name: Radical juice
Flavour Profile: Sweet, Fruity & Mellow
Region: Wales
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 62.6%
Age: 8

Price: £76.00

Super peachy, pineapple juice, a touch of pine, and creaminess . Not what we were expecting. The palate has more of that peach, pineapple, passionfruit, papaya.. a tropical alcopop. It’s like a pornstar Martini. One critique - the mouthfeel is a bit lacking, but if you can get past that this is really quite interesting. Not quite as good as last months Penderyn, but an easy 7.5/10.

Score: 7.5/10


BAT.17 - Fruit utopia

Name: Fruit utopia
Flavour Profile: Small batch blended malt
Region: Blended malt
Cask Type: Bourbon & French oak
ABV: 50.0%
Age: 25

Price: £195.00

It’s.. fruity. Pears, peaches, honeyed sweetness, a touch woody on the nose too. The palate has caramel, vanilla, and pineapple. It’s also a touch cakey. It’s really pleasant, but it gets a little tannic and dry on the later part of the palate. We’re finding the French oak dominates the bourbon casks. Its quaffable, and makes us think of a budget black arts. If it was £75 we’d buy a bottle. At its current price it’s a 6/10.

Score: 6/10


G15.12 - Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu) Distillery

Name: Frothy, frivolous and fun
Flavour Profile: Juicy, Oak & Vanilla
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
ABV: 57.8%
Age: 11

Price: £59.50

On the nose we're finding pickled gherkins (but mellow on the vinegar), hazelnuts, light orange notes and a floral quality coming through too. The palate has mint chocolate, digestive biscuits and ginger spices. It starts quite spicy but mellows as it sits on your palate. Not too bad. We want to go with a 7, but it’s just missing something..

Score: 6.5/10


CW1.3 - Heaven Hill Distillery

Name: Let's make some custard
Flavour Profile: Other Spirit
Region: Kentucky
Cask Type: New oak charred barrel
ABV: 61.2%
Age: 12

Price: £82.50

Copper, toasted walnuts, Irn Bru, along with a nice creaminess on the nose. It’s got a good mouthfeel, with menthol and corn syrup notes dominating the palate. It doesn’t taste its ABV, and is very drinkable. Not super complex but enjoyable none the less. We’ll go with 6.5/10 as this is slightly too pricey. 

Score: 6.5/10


A5.6 - Chateau de Laubade Distillery

Name: Le mouton, le cerf et le noir bitume
Flavour Profile: Other Spirit
Region: Bas Armagnac - Ugni Blanc
Cask Type: Refill Gascon black oak barrel
ABV: 60.4%
Age: NAS, ~32yo (distilled 01/04/90)

Price: £200.00

Red grapes, strawberry laces.. a lot of strawberry in fact. Cherry, black currant jam, Caramelised brown sugar, apple slices drizzled in caramel. The palate is light for 60%. It’s very balanced with apple pie, a hint of cinnamon and custard cream biscuits. This is really lovely, and if it weren’t £200 a bottle we’d snap up a case.

Score: 7.5/10


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