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.

A single malt that many lust after, Lagavulin 16 Year Old is a southern Islay offering which combines bright rich notes with a light dryness, creating an interesting, concentrated flavour. The nose is reminiscent of Lapsang Souchong tea, exceptionally smokey with undertones of sweet sherry and vanilla. The flavour is equally intense, with a thick richness on the palate, rich in malt and sherry with bright fruited sweetness and the smoky peat always there in the background. A masterpiece of the smokey style.

The rarest Johnnie Walker on the market, Blue Label has a refined and elegant flavour that lifts it into the premium malt category. A robust and fragrant nose is rich with oak, dry spices, berry fruits and aniseed. The flavour is mellower, more balanced and open, with toffee and light hints of smoke. Chocolate and intense malt warmth give the flavour another dimension and the long finish is awash with powerful oaky notes.

Part of the new core range of whiskies launched by Isle of Jura in early 2018, this 10 year old expression takes the place of Jura Origin. It's initially aged in American white oak bourbon barrels before enjoying a finishing period in Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at 40% ABV. It has the subtle smoke characteristic of Jura's excellent Island single malts, with robust vanilla and an intense kick of sherried sweetness underneath.

The entry level bottle from the Glenkinchie Distillery, this 12 year old malt is rich in the classic flavours whisky lovers look for. The nose is light and fragrant, with cereal notes and a little barley sweetness most prominent. The flavour is fruity with notes of sweet Madeira, calvados and tannic oak flooding the mouth. Fresh and rounded, this dram is vibrantly refreshing with just a little gentle spice coming through.

Finished in Oloroso sherry casks, Glenmorangie Lasanta is a warm, toasty single malt that takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic for warmth and passion. The nose is creamily sweet, with caramel, chocolate-covered fruit and sweet spices blended perfectly. The mouth feel is voluptuously thick, honeyed raisins, beeswax, vanilla ice cream and oaky dryness melt together in perfect harmony. A little spice and bitter cacao bring this dram to an excellent close.

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.

An excellent 18 year old single malt from Glenlivet, this bottle is a classic Speyside offering which has won awards for its style and refinement. Classic flavours come through in a well-rounded and vibrant nose, fresh with sherried peel, apple blossom and chewy sultanas. On sipping you’ll enjoy the sharpness of tannic oak, walnuts, orange peel and manuka honey. Toasty cereals are spiced up and hints of fennel draw each sip to a satisfying close.

With gold medals under its belt this 21 year old Glenlivet is highly regarded and its taste stands up to its reputation. The nose is full and rich with woody notes, sandalwood and pine coming through with sharp resin. Potpourri and brown sugar also come through, wrapped in acacia honey and the palate too is full-bodied with oily walnuts, baking spices and fruitcake creating a delightful and enjoyable flavour.

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.

Matured in American bourbon, Portuguese sherry and virgin oak casks, this Glenfiddich offering is a fine and enjoyable choice. 15 years spent ageing makes this a staple of the distillery and one which every drinks cabinet should be home to. The nose is rich with sherry, bright citrus notes and dried oak. Its flavour enhances these notes with raisins and sherry, evoking Christmas cake, complete with light spicing. Oak lingers and takes centre stage as the end note fades.

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.

A highly commended malt which offers wonderful value for money and exceptional flavour, this 15 year old Dalwhinnie lets its simple yet effective flavour notes do the talking. On the nose it’s all about aromatic toffee, sweet nectarine, apple blossom and just the slightest touch of smoke. When it comes to the palate you can reveal in malty walnut depth, sticky manuka honey and that gentle smoke weaving into the midst. Simplicity at its best.

Matured for 12 years, Cragganmore is a delicious, sherry-infused single malt representing Speyside and offering up both fruity warmth and slight floral notes. As you open the bottom it’s those floral notes that come first, closely followed by heather, smoked almonds and honey. Stone fruits dominate from your first sip, with a rich honey depth, chestnuts, walnuts and almonds enhancing the flavour even further. Delicate pepper spice brings each sip to a close in understated yet delectable style.

An absolute gem of a whisky, the 21 year old Royal Salute Signature Blend is a sophisticated expression. It's aged for a minimum of 21 years in honour of the 21 Gun Salute that is fired at the Tower of London for Royal celebration. The whisky is presented in a classic blue Wade ceramic decanter.

One of the most highly commended Chivas Regal blended malts, this 25 year old offering is truly delicious, with light fruit notes pairing perfectly with soft nutty notes. On the nose it’s the nuttiness that comes through first followed by berry fruits and malts and even a faint hint of porridge. The flavour is softer, gentle with sweet honey, aniseed and an elegant toffee richness. An earthy finish is the perfect end note.

This entry level Bunnahabhain single malt is a lightly peated offering from Islay and is aged for 12 years. Enjoy a light, fresh dram with a higher than average proof and a complex yet enjoyable flavour profile. The nose is rich in salty seaweed, warm malts and sweetness. This inviting aroma leads into a flavour which offers up notes of sherry, nuts, malt and juicy sultana. It’s wonderfully warming and sharply spiced without being overwhelming and it’s one you’ll find yourself reaching for time and again.

One of the newest offerings from Islay’s Bowmore distillery, this 18 year old single malt is perfumed, wonderfully fruity and rich with dark, smoky peat. The nose begins vibrantly, with the alcohol eat coming through amongst perfumed fruit and essence of fruit jam. When the flavour comes through it’s a balance of sweet and smoky, with deep peaty notes paired with cooked fruit and hearty marmalade. The end note is rich with sticky marmalade notes and a final whisper of smoke.

An exciting release from esteemed Islay distillery Bowmore, this 15 year old single malt enjoys maturation in fruity and elegant Oloroso sherry casks. From first opening the bottle 15 year old Bowmore is dark and punchy with sherry notes coming through strongly with sweet dates, spices and raisin present too. The flavour follows on in the same vein, rich and decadent with pine oil and rich woody spice coming through alongside malted fruits. The sherry character sells this malt every time.

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 is another Scottish single malt of much worth. Straight from cask to bottle, Ardbeg offers a unique flavour which is different to others from regions. Tree bark, peat and vanilla fudge aromas are first to escape and on tasting a burst of smokiness, sea salt and sweet aniseed vanilla hit the palate. Honeyed notes help to mellow it out but it’s the smoky peat flavour which lingers on.

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.

Ardbeg Uigeadail takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for ‘dark and mysterious place’ which is also the loch from which Ardbeg gets its water. Ardbeg pride themselves on a range of unique quality malts and Uigeadail doesn’t let the team down. The aroma is a rich mixture of peat, dark sugar, espresso beans and a hint of deep tar. The flavour is led by sweeter notes, with ripe fruit and honey coming through first with just a touch of malt, all the while supported by that lingering peat. Caramel and malt find a place in the lingering finish, adding warmth and sweetness to the peat.

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 Gold Blend Reserve is one premium whisky that all connoisseurs are rushing to try. Constructed around the flavours of a single malt from Clynelish, the flavours have been nurtured and brought into their own with great care. The nose is rich with Scottish heather, honey and caramel, with just a little subtle nutmeg coming through. On drinking you’ll enjoy the smoothness immediately, with a velvety mouth feel and more of that satisfying honey warmth. Spiced vanilla comes through accompanied by bright floral notes, leading into a long toffee-rich finish. Extremely drinkable.

Johnnie Walker Red Label was first created in 1909 and brings together a classic blend of whiskies. It’s a favourite for mixing, creating original cocktails and sitting at the back of the bar, simply waiting to be chosen. Johnnie Walker Red Label has a full and pungent aroma, with heather notes, herbaceous freshness and sweet honey. The palate is rich with winter spices, fruitcake and melt-in-the-mouth barley sugar depth, further enhancing this already enjoyable whisky.

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.