Six different types of wooden cask are involved in the making of this exception King Alexander III offering from The Dalmore. With influences from Madiera, Marsala, Kentucky bourbon, wine, port and sherry casks, this truly is a complexly developed malt that stands out. Seville orange zest comes through on the nose, with strong vinous notes, creamy vanilla fudge and tropical fruit. A rounded palate and a refreshing taste.

This 21 Year Old Balvenie malt is the flagship of Balvenie’s small group of Port Wood whiskies and is a refined and balanced offering. It spends time maturing in thirty year old port pipes which deliver elegance to every sip. White peach and light smoke flood the nose and are quickly followed by a delicate flavour with red fruits, raisins and vibrant floral honey. Balvenie’s 21 Year Old malt is a wonderful example of delicate flavours blended perfectly together.

The clue’s in the name with this one, Balvenie Doublewood Single Malt gets its name from the interesting distillation process, involving distillation in two woods. The maturation process involves moving the whisky from a traditional oak whisky cask to a Spanish oak sherry cask, adding more depth to its flavour and creating its warm, rounded character. Sweet fruit and sherry notes are apparent in its scent and the taste is mellow for a single malt, the sherry at work once more, with nuttiness and cinnamon notes building too.

First launched in 2008, The Dalmore 12 Year Old is a single malt rich in coffee and toasty warm notes. Spicy and thick in the mouth, it’s a very rich malt which stands out amongst its peers. Evoking the relaxed nature of a Western American coffee house, the nose of this malt is rich in roasting coffee beans, nuttiness and sweet malt. The palate is different, rich in Seville marmalade, wintry spice and cocoa drawing into a medium finish that ensures you go back for another sip.

A classic from the Isle of Skye and a critically acclaimed offering, Talisker 10 Year Old is a tangy and tasty malt. The nose is bitingly sharp with thick pungent smoke. Apple peels and light fragrant notes help to mellow the sharpness which is how the flavour is dominated with smoke, peppery peat and real intensity. The long finish is welcomingly sweet, with barley and malt, mellows the intense peaty and smoke.

A West Highland malt of real esteem, this 14 year old Oban is traditional in its flavour but this isn’t something to overlook. Rich and smoky on the nose, this Oban has a medicinal flavour about it, with notes of the sea, coast and seaweed all coming through together. Smooth sweetness is offered up by citrus-infused vanilla but it’s the medicinal notes which truly make this a memorable dram.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask was released in 2004 to much esteem. Youthful compared to other offerings it’s a highly commendable malt which still has a bold, enticing flavour despite its young age. Oily and butter rich on the nose, toffee, nuts and hickory smoke come through measuredly. The palate gives a bold hit of sweetness with fiery chilli heat coming through quickly in pursuit, medicinal freshness, chewy cereals and even a hint of cola also follow.

Beautifully packaged as a testament to the quality of the dram, Glenmorangie Signet is intense and deep with chocolate malty flavours. The nose of this offering is wonderfully rich, with chocolate raisins, citrus peels and old-fashioned cocktail flavours. The palate is sweet and syrupy thick with dry cinnamon, strong hits of cocoa and of course that archetypal malt which makes this Glenmorangie dram so moreish. Pleasant dry notes bring the drink to a close in refined, elegant style.