Nose: Strawberries, cherries and tobacco smoke. A light malty toast fills in the gaps. Vermouth-like herbs and sweetness arise after a while. Faint vanilla and orange rind.

Palate: Apples and pears, followed by waxy oranges and cherry brandy. Manuka honey, with vanilla highlights. Sherried sultanas and currant buns.

Finish: Honey almonds and chocolate raisins. Medium long.

Overall: Before 2008, this was only available to the French market. Thankfully it's been opened up to the rest of the world, as its a fine dram, very waxy with powerful fruit throughout. If you are partial to a bit of whisky blasphemy, one feels this would make a wonderful Rob Roy.