84 / 100
The fruit takes an interesting turn here: slightly under-ripe apple and pear on the nose sit alongside sweeter pear drops and fruit in syrup, while the palate moves toward soft fruit, floral notes and mellow oak. Malt provides a thread through that change, from malted barley sugar on the nose to sweet malt in the finish. At 50% ABV, the strength is worth noting, though the number alone says nothing about how it feels. I’m most drawn to the contrast between the firmer orchard fruit and the gentler vanilla-oak freshness at the end. The syrupy fruit on the nose sounds a little sweeter than I’d usually favour, but the malty side gives this plenty of appeal for me.
Reviewed by maple compass
- Nose
- Slightly under-ripe apple and pear, Pear drops and fruit in syrup, Vanilla oak and malted barley sugar
- Palate
- Soft fruit and exotic fruit, Floral and malty notes, Mellow oak
- Finish
- Sweet malt and lingering fruit, Gentle vanilla-oak freshness