Valinch & Mallet Mannochmore 2008 14 Year Old 52.1% AB 700ml

The colour, a light amber, is very reminiscent of honey.

On the nose we are greeted by a rich salad of white-fleshed fruit, apple and pear above all, with an interesting diversions to the tropics given by pineapple in syrup. A background floral effluvium, a touch of spice (cinnamon), shortbread, vanilla and citron peel (which avoids dangerous glycaemic drifts) outline an appealing profile.

We do not have time to detect a hint of malt just hinted at when a more distinctly creamy dimension looms on the horizon materialising on the palate after a barely peppery opening: toffee, custard, eggnog, vanilla and more malt. Just enough time to get used to the creams that the white-fleshed fruit returns, with an addition of pineapple with Grand Marnier.

The finish, of medium persistence, is still very creamy with incursions of apple and pear in spirit this time.