Nose Juicy and honeyed with sweet barley and orange. Hugely buttery and quite meaty, extremely well-rounded. Nettle, buttercups, oak, cakey-ness and a little pepper.
Palate Big, satisfying entry with plenty of classic Sherry influence, herbal and malty with cherries and chocolate.
Finish Rich oak, chocolate and fantastic creamy Black Forest gâteau.
Overall Reference Series II has a much higher proportion of very old single malts than I, producing a tremendous blended malt that's also the second control whisky for the brand's ongoing whisky experiments!