Scottish Whisky

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.

A high-ABV variation on the classic Smokehead Islay single malt, Smokehead High Voltage is described as an "all-out attack" on your senses by its producer. Which, y'know, sounds pretty intense. If you're a fan of heavily-peated whisky, you're in for a treat.

Nose: Burnt biscuits, dried earth and a kick of black pepper.

Palate: Oily barley and intense campfire smoke, with a hint of brown sugar underneath.

Finish: Sea salt, oat cakes and smoked paprika.

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.

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.

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.

Glen Garioch use virgin North American white oak casks for the entirety of the maturation for their Virgin Oak release. These US casks are preferable to European oak in some ways due to the lower tannin levels, plus the big vanillin component works exceptionally well with the malt.

This whisky is a big toffee, vanilla and chocolate number with spice and cloves to balance and leading to a long sweet finish.

This whisky ages for 15 years in oak casks before it is finished, as the name suggests, in Limousin French Oak (the same kind that is used for many Cognacs). Expect rich notes of fruit, almonds and sweet spice.

This is the core expression of 10 year old Ballechin single malt Scotch whisky, which is heavily peated whisky from Edradour. It has been named for the silent Ballechin distillery near the Edradour distillery. Releases under the Ballechin name from Edradour were previously presented as part of The Discovery Series, many of which were matured in different types of casks, including Sherry, bourbon and a selection of wine casks. This 10 year old expression, however, comes from a combination of ex-Oloroso Sherry and ex-bourbon casks.

Nose: Oily malt, whiffs of burnt ends and BBQ char, a few touches of apple and fig.

Palate: Chewy dates and oak, with smouldering peat bringing spicy heat to the palate.

Finish: A hint of ash sticks around on the finish.

Matured in hand-selected fine oak ex-bourbon casks and finished in ex-peated malt casks.

Old Pulteney is based in the thriving metropolis of Wick, popn 6777. It's a stones throw from the sea, and is known for its seasidey, coastal flavours.

Part of Signatory's new '100 proof' collection, this vibrant Ben Nevis is a rare example of the distillery's peated stock. Bottled from a range of refill ex Oloroso casks, there are notes of sweet peat smoke, bold spicy marmalade, fire roasted nuts, industrial coal smoke and hints of earthiness.

A great example of the Aultmore's depth and complexity - distilled back in 2010 and filled into a refill butt. After 11 years of maturation it was released in 2022.

Named after a famous Englishman, Thomas Parr, who lived during the 15th and 16th centuries. His remains now lie in Westminster Abbey. This particular brand, while now owned by Diageo, was founded in 1909! Awarded as the '2007 World Whisky of the Year', it comes bottled with a funky, brown bottle which oozes character and charm. The bottle is not smooth but is intentionally mottled and wrinkled similar to the skin of a very old man, paying tribute to Thomas Parr, who is the oldest man in the history of England, living for more than 150 years. The taste comes with a firm vanilla tinged with oak and spice begins to rise first, with sawgrass, and green willow following. One with patience will also find flavors of honey and caramel underneath the soft smoke as well.