A rich and sherried expression from Mortlach that's will always be compared to the fan-favourite 16-year-old Flora & Fauna bottling. This is more balanced than that discontinued dram, with a mix of first-fill and refill sherry casks giving a wider range of sherry-cask character, from rich and dark dried fruit to plump and juicy berries.

Nose:
Singed raisins and oozing apple pies – dark fruitcake slathered with rich apple sauce. Stewed apples sit at the core, surrounded by dried fruit, dark sugars and rich spice. Damp-oak rancio and fresh-oak cinnamon are joined by raisins, dates, chocolate and a touch of Dundee cake.

Palate: Rich and thick, with brown sugar syrup stirred into a bowl of dried raisins and apples. The sticky sweetness is tempered and balanced by gentle barrel char and sharp orchard fruit – unripe apples and crunchy pears. Dark oloroso notes build – sweet and savoury dried fruit – and dark chocolate sauce pools underneath. Hints of menthol and clove hide at the back.

Finish:Mint and menthol fade to chocolate raisins. A menthol tingle lingers.

Alcohol: 43.4%