Edradour 12

Pleasant and not overpowering, surprisingly mild. Cured tobacco and candle wax, with a touch of salinity at the back. Reaching further, dates and the odd cherry give way to a honeyed core. Notes of cinnamon and nutmeg: it's a Christmas pudding-scented candle.

The wax comes through into the mouthfeel: it coats the mouth entirely, pleasantly, without feeling oily. Black tea - unsmoked lapsang - comes to mind. Treacle and honey. Fruits in the nose begin to dry out and fade: an occasional raisin, dried prune. Old wood takes over the background with some accompanying bitterness- 85% dark chocolate, maybe 90%. A hint of ethanol nearest the finish.

Medium to long with a touch of dryness. Here, the sherry comes through most clearly as it fades into a long treacle sweetness, with notes of raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg returning quietly at the end.