It characterises a brilliant Japanese malt, capturing the harmony between the bitter coffee and the sweet oak notes that follow.

Vanilla rises to the fore and takes charge, with orchard flavours of oak and dew covered grass coming in behind it.

The palate beings in more floral flavours, with cherry blossom and crisp apples appearing.

These go perfectly with the earthier notes of the nose. They are fresh and bright, with a lovely mellow character.

The vanilla becomes more like caramel, which lends a lovely smooth mouth feel. There is a delicate sherried spice that goes well with these sweeter notes as well.

Dried raisins and apricots also come out, giving it a bit of depth and richness.

The finish is long and warming, with more sherry and a hint of dried fruits.

This is a brilliant dram with lots of complexity and character, not to be missed.

This article is part of a content partnership with Dekanta.com whereby they provided the bottle in return for a review, but, as always, my views and thoughts are my own only and not influenced by the partnership.