Like Snow White’s apple – dangerously seductive

The nose exuded an enticing warmth of vanilla pods, strawberry jam, caramelised apple, treacle tarts and dark chocolate melted on pumpernickel bread. The palate, powerful and punchy, dark and mysterious, had candied fruits, marzipan, malt extract, root beer and cough syrup. Adding water brought Christmas cake to the nose, as well as walnut bread, poached pear, raspberry pieces in dark chocolate and Snow White’s apple (not poisonous perhaps, but dangerously seductive). The palate now delivered rhubarb crumble, jam on croissants and then a ham baked with cola, muscovado and clove. Eight years in ex-bourbon wood preceded further maturation in a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead.