SULLIVANS COVE American Oak Second Fill Single Cask (TD0062)

Nose : Ripe pineapple, kiwi and frangipani jump out, with a broad base of custard apple and pineapple upside down cake. Remarkably complex fruit layer; a bit deeper and there's the beautiful little red alpine strawberry flavour bombs. Biscuitty, wet timber shavings, carob, and a hint of tobacco and light oud give a lovely earthy base. And somewhere in the middle is sugar, like a bag of hundreds and thousands.

Palate : Thick and lactic- the cream part of strawberries and cream lollies. Apricot jam, vanilla thickshake with a splash of caramel (who doesn't love a mixed shake), and buttery shortbread. Milk choc, and fatty nuts (Brazil nuts and walnuts) form a solid textural and structural base. Developing from the earthy choc-nut base is a savoury herbal spice note, like fenugreek leaves, and freshly baked bread.

Overall : A volley between fruit (guava initially, then mango, dried apples, dates) and buttery shortbread. Then, a burst of fun, zingy sherbert, and a long finish of biscuits, caramel fudge and custard apple. Full circle.