Single Malt Whisky

A 2004 vintage whisky from Balmenach, the location at the centre of Inver House's group of distilleries. It mainly goes into blended whisky and doesn't have an official bottling but a small amount gets out through independents like Gordon & Macphail.

The Speyside representative of the Classic Malts series is rich and spicy, with a very satisfying complexity and a well-sherried backbone.

A lightly peated version of Finlaggan's secret distillery Islay single malt, aged for 10 years.

A tiny distillery in Perthshire is home to Edradour, one of Scotland's most endearingly different malts. Delicious honey notes complimented by an oily mouthfeel and a really stylish finish.

One of the classic after-dinner malts, Balvenie Doublewood's extra complexity and richness are a result of a second maturation in fresh sherry casks. Great stuff.
IWSC 2012 - Gold Medal - Whisky - Scotch

The replacement for the old 12yo as the distillery's standard bottling, Glenturret 10yo has a deliciously rich, fruity character. You can see why Famous Grouse is so successful with Glenturret as its backbone.

Smokehead is a popular single Islay malt from Ian Macleod distillers. Debate has raged over the identity of the distillery which supplies the whisky for Smokehead. We know, but we're not telling.

A favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, being conveniently situated close by Balmoral Castle. Royal Lochnagar was originally a key ingredient in VAT 69, but most production is now for single malts.

A smart packaging job for this distillery-bottled expression of Benromach 10yo, which has been a big hit since its introduction in late 2009. Well done to G&M for making the standard release strength 43%.

Along with Importanticus Fumosus and Aromaticus Fumosus, this was part of a series of peated Benriachs finished in different wood types - in this case, Pedro Ximenez sherry casks have been used.

As the name suggests, this is a peated Benriach that's been finished in a rum cask. Dolium volvitur, if you'll pardon the pun. Received 91 points from Jim Murray (caveat emptor), who made it sound pretty tasty. Apologies for the poor Latin jokes, Mercator aliquantulus dementis.

A relaunched Singleton, this time from Dufftown, to replace the now-defunct Singleton of Auchroisk. This smooth, mellow dram is designed to attract new drinkers to the malt category, while its smart packaging has ensured its popularity as a gift.
World Whiskies Awards 2012 - Best Speyside 12 years and under

The 17th entry from distillery number 4 in the Gordon & Macphail's Secret Stills series - distilled in 2000 at an undisclosed distillery (Bowmore).

Arran 10yo is a medium-bodied, citrussy dram that shows an elegance and deftness of touch that belies the distillery's youth. Tasting the complexity and assurance of this youngster it is difficult to believe that the distillery only opened in 1995. A great achievement.

Laphroaig 10yo is a full-bodied, smoky gem, with a residual sweetness and a hint of salt amidst the seaweedy, peaty characters before a long warming finish. A classic dram.
IWSC 2012 - Gold Medal - Whisky - Scotch

A youthful Conniosseurs Choice vintage bottling of the little-seen Balmenach, a blend-fodder Speyside distillery whose owners Inver House have yet to release an official bottling despite buying the distillery in 1997 and bringing it out of mothballs the following year. Hopefully that will be rectified soon.

It's taken over a decade, but here we have the second edition of Springbank CV. After the widespread acclaim for the Longrow CV released in 2009, and the distillery's recent renaissance after a couple of so-so years, we expect this to be one of the hits of 2010.

A massive success as the island representative in Diageo's 'Classic Malts' series, Talisker 10yo's profile keeps increasing as more fans discover its intense coastal spicy, peaty character. A truly elemental malt.
Malt Maniacs Awards 2010: Best Natural Cask Award 2010 (Daily Drams)

An award winning Eastern Highland malt that was almost unknown until it was bought by Bacardi in 1998, Aberfeldy's main claim to fame is as the heart of the excellent Dewar's blend. Clean and polished malt with a touch of honey and spice.

Spirit of Lewis is single malt spirit from the Abhainn Dearg distillery on the Isle of Lewis. Bottled from a single cask at 46%, Spirit of Lewis has been aged for less than three years and therefore cannot legally be called whisky.