In our humble opinion there's little better than a mid-teen Laphroaig at full strength from a refill or plain cask, so we're getting a bit hot under the collar about this plain hogshead 'Froyg 1996 from indie heroes Signatory.
A 1990 vintage Bowmore bottled in the mid-2000s after 16 years of maturing in sherry casks. A big and rich dram with the traditional Bowmore floral peat and smoke.
A bourbon matured whisky from Ardbeg, bottled by the folks at Cadenhead's at 17 years old. Distilled in 1994, matured in a hogshead and bottled in October 2010.
Bottled for the distillery's centenary, this single cask 16yo Glendullan has been kept at its remarkable full strength of 62.6% - so it needs a generous drop of water to tame its elegant, yet firm style and lift the grassy citrus flavours.
A wonderful old-school Highlander, this UK 100-proof distillery-bottled Brackla has plenty of fruit and a grassy undertone. very drinkable at full strength, but really blossoms with a drop of water.
This whisky was distilled at Convalmore in 1984, just one year before the distillery closed. After 16 years of maturation this has been bottled by William Maxwell & Co. for the Dun Bheagan Collection.
A marvellous old bottling of 1970 single malt from the little-seen Balmenach, released as part of the Connoisseurs Choice series by indie legends Gordon & Macphail.
A Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling of whisky from closed Dallas Dhu. Distilled in January 1982 it was bottled 16 years later in March 1998 at a rather high 64.6%. As the name suggests it's a mix of sweetness and citrus, with a lightly floral note.
A mid-1990s independent bottling of whisky from this much sought after closed distillery. It was distilled a few years before closure and matured for 16 years before release as part of Direct Wines's First Cask range.