Tasting notes by Billy A

• Nose

  Rich and heavy fruit and spice, right off the bat: dried mixed fruit, prunes, cherries and fruit jellies. Rich marzipan and sticky black liquorice appear behind that, along with a rich earthiness and menthol. As Alan Winchester admits, there is a hint of sulphur, making itself known with a rubbery edge, but it’s controlled and merely adds weight.

• Palate

  Softer than suggested by the nose, with barrel-char edges and spicy, stewed apple initially. It develops heavier notes, with rum ‘n’ raisin fudge, liquorice, woody spice (cinnamon and nutmeg) and dark chocolate. Spiced butter pastry and raisins sit beside the other flavours, giving a sweet Eccles cake hit.

• Finish

  Liquorice, dark chocolate, raisins, mint and pine hints, and lingering bitter char, with apple skin and brown sugar.