MEGA YUM! Sipsmith boys came up trumps with this one. Super silky mouthfeel with notes of lemon barley water and crushed up breakfast cereal from your schooldays. This is followed by a creamy vanilla moment before more lemon and eventually a brief hard boiled barley sugar with orange rind. Finish is  silky and leaves you with a lovely lemon barley note and a desire for more of the same.

La Maison Fontaine Chocolat Absinthe Liqueur is inspired and by an old handwritten recipe and the flavour is a really distinctive and exciting taste. Its nose is rich in chocolate notes with liquorice and aniseed coming through and the taste is sweet with definite dryness and aniseed absinthe notes coming through strongly alongside lighter, milky chocolate notes. It’s the absinthe that really stands out but the chocolate adds a really interesting twist.

Zoco Pacharan Navarro Liqueur is produced in the Basque area and is one of the oldest commercial brands of Pacharan there is and it’s clear to see the flavours have been refined to absolute perfection. Zoco Pacharan is made by steeping sloe berries, coffee and vanilla in an aniseed based liqueur, delivering flavours which almost seem impossible. Complex and vibrant with fruity flavours, Zoco Pacharan definitely delivers a taste to remember.

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.

A blended malt whisky from the folks at the famous William Grant distillery, Monkey Shoulder brings together a range of smooth single malts in beautiful harmony. The nose is an elegant marmalade-laced malty affair, with just a little clove and cinnamon spice. The flavour too is malt-driven yet creamy in the mouth with recognisable berries, toasted barley and butterscotch notes. The creamy warmth of this blend doesn’t let go until the very end and is a wonderfully enjoyable offering.

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.

The talents of Scotland and America are combined in each bottle of Glenmorangie. The finest single malt whisky of Scotland is matured in American Mountain Oak casks, delivering the characteristic aromatic flavour of Glenmorangie. A light and inviting aromas only hints at the flavour, enticing you to taste the fresh and floral flavours within. Notes of vanilla balance gently alongside sweet orange and peach, the latter lingering in a satisfying aftertaste.

A classic Speyside offering, Glenfiddich’s 12 Year Old blend spends time in both American and European oak casks, developing a truly distinguished flavour. Your traditional Speyside flavours are released as you open the bottle with a slightly floral, mineral-inspired malted aroma, with citrus honey and orchard fruit notes. The floral notes come to a head in the flavour, with spices carrying the drink to a new level, smoothness ruling throughout. A true benchmark of quality.

One of the most well-known distilleries in the land, this 21 year old Glenfiddich has all the flavours you want from an exceptional malt. Finished in specially selected Caribbean rum casks, rum-like notes come through in the nose alongside figs, caramel, evoking the festive period. The flavour is rich in spiced fruit depth, with ginger and lime standing out strongly. A long and dry finish is the perfect ending to a highly enjoyable drink.

At the heart of the Bowmore range, this 12 year old offering doesn’t disappoint with a mixture of coastal notes and earthy, gentle peat. On the nose you’ll enjoy wonderful bright floral notes, with smoky heather and heady hits of peat. The palate is more rounded, smooth and mellow rich if floral perfumed smoke, dark peat and a touch of lemon and sea spray. Evokes coastal strolls and waves crashing against the shore.

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.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan is a legend in its own right. A dram you won’t forget and a malt you are almost guaranteed to want to buy time and again. Medicinal in style, the nose is rich in herbal and pine notes, with creamier hints of buttery warmth and smoke. The palate too is wonderfully creamy with tingling spices, a touch of fresh fruit, orange peels and that medicinal tang. The finish is long with a salty edge, a hint of peat and that unusual yet enjoyable medicinal taste remains prevalent.

This classic 12 year old Aberfeldy is a traditional single malt Scotch, distilled up in the Highlands. Rich and malty in character, aromas of cooked cherries, sherry and a light hint of smoke come through first. The flavour is wonderfully sweet with a clean mouth feel and malty notes coming through consistently. Gentle peaty depth reminds you of the quality of this malt and peters off to a gentle finish.

Johnnie Walker Double Black is an exceptional limited edition offering which brings out the finest notes of traditional Black Label and combines them with a peatier whisky which is matured in barrels which are more charred. A smoke-filled nose offers up a little vanilla, citrus and malt and the flavour is creamy, malty and packed with enjoyable peat smoke. Salty butter, sweetened custard and cereals add further depth and character to this premium blend.

Exuding class and a little mystery, our pal Johnnie Black deserves a spot in your drinks cabinet. Deep and complex with a flavour that tantalises the tongue, Johnnie Black has been perfectly refined with as many as 40 whiskies brought together to create a mature, intricate and enjoyable scotch. A long fruity finish is exceptional amongst others in its class, with currant and citrus notes lingering longest of all.

J&B Rare is Europe’s most famous Scotch whisky, one of the most popular ones on the market. Blending together 42 different whiskies the flavour is a wonderfully nutty combination of sweetness and spice. Berry fruits, sweetshop fruit salad and caramel blend together with an oak-spiced warmth bringing each sip to a rounded finish. There’s a good reason this whisky is so popular, it’s smoothness on the palate and wonderful warmth.

It hardly needs introducing, it’s one of the stalwarts of the drinks cupboard! Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky brings together the earthy flavours of many of Scotland’s finest single malts creating a blend which is improved by oak cask maturation. Rich and familiar, the taste of Bell’s is like a loyal friend and the welcome nutty flavours teamed with notes of spice are infinitely enjoyable. The eight-year maturation process guarantees a round, warming flavour.

It hardly needs introducing, it’s one of the stalwarts of the drinks cupboard! Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky brings together the earthy flavours of many of Scotland’s finest single malts creating a blend which is improved by oak cask maturation. Rich and familiar, the taste of Bell’s is like a loyal friend and the welcome nutty flavours teamed with notes of spice are infinitely enjoyable. The eight-year maturation process guarantees a round, warming flavour.

Rittenhouse Rye Whisky 100 proof is a hot and spicy offering which spends six years maturing before bottling. Vibrant cinnamon, black pepper and spicy rye are all prevalent in the nose and they lead into a medium body in which the higher proof is immediately apparent on the tongue. Rich notes of tobacco, cinnamon, clove and brown sugar blend together to create a highly spiced offering with just a touch of sweetness. Sip it slowly.

The expert distillers at Bulleit offer us their sweet and fruity Rye offering, adding even more rye into the mix than their traditional bourbon. Bulleit Rye has a mashbill of 95% rye and just 5% malted barley and is produced in small batches, allowing the flavour to really bloom. The nose is awash with sweet cherries and classic vanilla and on the palate you’ll enjoy an intense heat that mellows into a mesh of peaches, cherries, cinnamon and orange zest. A smoky finish is just what’s needed to show a bourbon of true class.

If you’re feeling hot and want to test the fire in your belly then this is a drink for you. Fireball whisky liqueur is made from Canadian whiskies and natural cinnamon. The two combined provide a white hot heat which is rich in sweet cinnamon, red hot sugary flavours which are enjoyable as well as responsible for the burn that hits the back of your throat. A popular shooter but also a guaranteed way to add pep to cocktail.

Suntory are the gods of the Japanese whisky scene and their Hakushu line is amongst the most popular. The Hakushi distillery is hidden in the forests near the Japanese Alps and this particular offering is aged for 12 years. An exceptional single malt, Hakushu 12 year is a light and refreshing offering with hay and mixed peels on the nose and gentle barley malt, smokiness and hazelnut coming through in the taste. Sweetness is perfectly balanced against spice.

Woodford Reserve is a very specific combination of corn, rye and malt creating a cereal-rich flavour. It’s unusual as its triple distilled and matured for six years, creating a smooth yet punchy flavour which is perfect for bringing out the best in your next Old-Fashioned cocktail. Thick and creamy both in aroma and taste, notes of honey, deep spice, fresh leather and cocoa come together to create a flavour you won’t be able to forget. Toast oak spice is your main reminder of the drink when you finish.