Benriach The Smokey Twelve (12 Year)

Brilliantly peaty 12 year old whisky here from the Benriach Distillery, released as part of its new core range launched in 2020. To create this expression, Dr. Rachel Barrie used a combo of bourbon, sherry and Marsala wine casks, imparting sun-dried fruit and warming festive spice notes to the smoky single malt. Ought to be fab for chilly evenings, this one...

Nose: Flamed orange peel, chocolate brownies fresh from the oven, raisins and walnuts.

Palate: Well-rounded sweetness from the Marsala casks wonderfully juxtaposed with woody smoke and a hint of clove.

Finish: Almond, orange once again, peppercorn and hickory.

Country: Scotch Whisky

Region: Speyside Whisky

Distillery: BrandBenriach

Bottler: Benriach

Age12 year old Whisky

ABV: 46.0%

Bowmore 18 Year

A comparatively recent release from Bowmore, the 18 year old was launched in January of 2007 to replace the 17 year old. A perfumed, fruity offering from the Islay distillery.

Nose: Pungent, citrus. Stewing fruit, hints of damp wood and a very soft smoke.

Palate: Spirity at first, then gives way to perfume, fruit, plum jam. A good sweetness, peat smoke, grapey.

Finish: Seville marmalade, blossom, dark peat.

Country: Scotch Whisky

Region: Islay Whisky

Distillery / Brand: Bowmore

Bottler: Bowmore

ABV: 43%

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2012

This is the 2012 vintage of Bruichladdich's Islay Barley single malt Scotch whisky! As the name suggests, this expression is made using barley that grown on the Hebridean island which Bruichladdich calls home. The distillery works with farms across the island to source the barley, which is distilled, matured and bottled up at 50% ABV.

Nose: Waxy orange peels, nutty malt, soft wafts of rock pool aroma and some fresh peaches.

Palate: Vanilla wafers, sugared almonds, oatcakes, a hint of buttered bread and spring blossom.

Finish: Soft hints of spicy oak develop later on, mellowed by mint chocolate and walnut loaf.

Country: Scotch Whisky

Region: Islay Whisky

Distillery: BrandBruichladdich

Bottler: Bruichladdich

ABV: 50%

Oban Little Bay

Previously part of their travel retail offering, Oban's Little Bay has graduated to the core range as a 70cl bottling. Master Blenders Dr. Matthew Crow and Dr. Craig Wilson use whisky matured in refill American oak hogsheads, European oak Sherry casks and refill casks with new ends for this expression before allowing the resultant single malt whisky to marry in small oak casks.

Nose: Dried apple chips, floral herbs and chopped mint, candied orange and a touch of milky coffee.

Palate: Those fancy chocolates with the flakes of sea salt, pound cake topped with demerara sugar and cinnamon. Citrus returns on the mid-palate.

Finish: Spiced with cinnamon and ginger.

Country: Scotland

Region: Scottish West Cost (Western Highland)

Distillery: Glenfarclas

Bottler: Glenfarclas

Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 43.0%