Warm and toastie

This felt like folding a scarf around your neck for maximum warmth. The scent was that of a hot chocolate, with a good shot of kirsch and topped with cinnamon cream. On the palate, we found apple strudel, and whisky-spiked mulled ginger beer with honey. One Panellist, with very long arms, imagined hugging a redwood tree. After reduction we moved high up into the Alps. We sat in a chalet, with fog in the valley, blue sky up above and a mountain panorama to die for. We made a carrot and coriander soup before enjoying a croque monsieur of soft sourdough, gruyere, smoked ham and creamy mustard mayonnaise. Following 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill heavy toast medium char hogshead.