The nose had oodles of sweet fruitiness – sangria, peach schnapps, fruits in syrup, orange Creamola Foam, limes, plums, pomegranates – also scented candles and leather-bound books on polished oak shelves. With water, we imagined old-fashioned ice-cream parlours – coffee, vanilla, hot fudge sauce, milk shakes, chocolate and cherries – the works.

The palate was weighty, deep, long, sophisticated, fabulous – orange oil, chocolate, toffee, coffee, pomegranates and lychees. In reduction – gooey sponge cake, rum baba, grapefruit and cocoa – heavenly, even decadent – the panel purred. A panellist commented - coffee for gentlemen, sangria for ladies, chocolate and ice-cream for youngsters – something for everyone. The distillery was converted from a brewery by Thorne’s in 1897.