A 10 Year Old single malt from Aberlour distillery that spent most of its ageing in bourbon barrels and sherry casks from Jerez, before it was treated to a finish in French Limousin oak casks. It's called Forest Reserve as a nod to the commitment of the distillery to conserving the forest in the Speyside region, where the distillery resides.

Aberlour 10yo is a great entry-level malt, ideal for beginners, with a fine sherried spiciness. Pound for pound, this is one of the best that Speyside has to offer.

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The whisky that kicks off the Glenlivet range, one of the oldest and most reputable distilleries in Speyside. Named in honour of the distillery's founder, George Smith. It's classic Glenlivet, with a creamy and fruity character bolstered by the use of first-fill American oak to mature some of the whisky.

This gift box comes with two branded glasses.

Glenfarclas 105 60% Score 9.07 Came First Speyside tasting July 2009. Masala and zabaglioni on the nose, vanilla fudge, bicycle tyres, buttery, ironing, woody tobacco, vegemite and toffee. Strong sweet palate, cointreau liquor, macintosh toffee, mint. Rich finish, floral, smoke, good length. RWS/DMM

The 2020 Kilchoman Small Batch Release is a vatting of Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry matured Kilchoman at 47.4% with one specially selected Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead at natural cask strength.

Expect to find the classic Kilchoman citrus and peat smoke with added layers of treacle, toffee & cooked fruits.

This is batch 2 of the Small Batch Releases with 1,260 bottles produced.  

The yearly Diageo Special Releases always pack some surprises and it's fair to say an unpeated Caol Ila is probably one of them. This single malt Scotch promotes the distillery's lesser-known side as a sherry-forward Caol Ila that swaps smoke for elegant sweetness. It was matured for 15 years in refill and rejuvenated American-oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European oak butts before it was bottled at a cask strength 59.1% ABV.

Nose: Opens with marmalade-laden buttery toast, milk chocolate and fresh orange notes, before red cherry, strawberry and raisin comes through. Lashes of vanilla and a suggestion of spearmint, too.

Palate: Leads with more of that creamy chocolate, fruity yoghurt and honey. Peach is in there too, and in with all the oiliness is a pine-like quality.

Finish: Yoghurt-covered almonds with some liquorice and, yes, some distant smoke.

Overall: It's an viscous drop that packs a creamy-fruity punch.

Kilchoman Fino Cask 2020 Bottling Note

An intriguing bottling here from Kilchoman, which has been matured fully in Fino sherry casks! The casks for this expression were used previously by Bodega Miguel Martin in Spain, including 11 fresh sherry butts and just the one refill butt. Combining the savoury notes of peaty whisky with the salinity of Fino, this ought to be great for someone looking to try something a little bit different.

Nose: Toasted nuts, peat smoke and a hint of sea salt, while sweeter notes of honey and banana bring some balance.

Palate: Dark chocolate, another touch of flaky sea salt, a burst of fresh citrus and some earthy, vegetal peat.

Finish: Green olive, salted butter and smoke.

The Arran Malt finished in Sauternes casks. These casks that previously held Bordeaux sweet wine give a honeyed sweetness to the isle of Arran?s only single malt distillery.

Nose: Initially acacia honey but then opening up to apricots, bananas and pears. With time a floral elegance presents itself.

Palate: Sweet but cut with warm spice. Lemon zest announces itself with the addition of water and a slight saltiness plays with this dram's sweet character.

Finish: Seville orange, Sauternes and an ounce of honey in a crisp finish.

Aroma: Rich and sweet with fruitcake and vanilla aromas. Sherry influences intertwine with zesty citrus notes.

Taste: Spicy with cinnamon, stewed plum and orange marmalade combining with a smooth milk chocolate finish.

Part of the distillery's 2020 packacking refresh, Loch Lomond Original is the entry-level bottling from this Highlander. Elegant yet full bodied with a hint of peat.

40% ABV 

Smooth and mellow, the aroma opens with vanilla and rich, silky notes of exotic fruits, dried pineapples and a hint of smoky liquorice.

GlenDronach have released another sumptuous single malt that has enjoyed a rest in Port casks. This particular expression is a 10 year old whisky, initally aged in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks before being finished in Port pipes from Portugal's Douro valley.

A reinvigorated release from Tullibardine, upping the quality of presentation as well as their whisky. This bourbon barrel matured dram is packed with vanilla and spice.

Glengoyne is a small farm-style distillery located under the slopes of Dumgoyne in at the southern border of the Scottish Highlands.

The second bottling from Douglas Laing's 2020 outturn this is also from a refill hogshead REF - DL14559. Distilled in August 2005

The notes say to expect the distillery's typical clean, crisp, fruity barley but in a mouthcoating, syrupy, even sugary style with a touch of citrus tang. Non chill filtered at 48.4%. 260 bottles from a refill hogshead.

Nose: Clean and crisp, sweet and spiced, gristy and honeyed.... so fresh and fruity.

Palate: Deliciously mouthcoating in syrupy, sugary style - warming spice and runs to barley.

Finish: Gently toasted developing to allspice, tangy citrus notes and Malted barley (FHL).

Released in 2013, Ragnvald is part of The Warrior Series, a collection of single malts created for Duty-Free to both introduce a key figure from Orkney?s Viking history and to demonstrate the impact of cask type on our whisky?s flavour, which is immense.

Predominantly matured in the finest sherry seasoned European oak casks, Ragnvald?s flavour is rich and succulent, with distinct yet balanced notes of dark chocolate, candied peel, and oriental spices, all rounded off with heather rich peat smoke.