Bath time in the classroom

The nose conveyed sweetness (heather honey, nougat, pink wafers, strawberry ice-cream and choc-chip muffins) and evoked one panellist’s old classroom (wood, slate, art materials) but bath salts and essential oils for another. The substantial, flavoursome palate had crème brûlée, dried dates, honeyed walnuts and maple and pecan Danish pastries, complemented by a finish of cardamom, chilli flakes and pickled ginger. The reduced nose offered dried coconut, Lion bars, cherry sponge cake, American cream soda and wood shavings. On the palate, maple candies, caramel, chocolate and pain au raisin were the sweet precursors to pepper, cinnamon, clove and balsamic splashed on oak.