HIGHLANDS 

Blair Athol Batch 15, 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 57.5% abv 289 bottles rrp £39.95

A youthful, yet very approachable whisky. Sweet maltiness and light, fruity notes, with subtle vanilla character. While it may lack the complexity of older expressions, this is a very tasty fresh and vibrant malt.

Nose: Bright and clean. Sweet maltiness, delicate honey, overripe orchard fruits, and gentle oak undertones, providing just a hint of charred woodiness.

Palate: A sweet and malty foundation balanced with bright and zesty citrus notes, subtle vanilla sweetness and light summer grasses, with hints  of ginger in the finish.

Macduff Batch 13, 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 50.2% abv 124 bottles rrp £129.95

This 21 Year Old  Macduff has been lightly finished in PX cask. Please don’t expect a full on sherry monster here. The mature malt has been treated with respect, so this marriage of the distillery's character with a tasteful influence of Pedro Ximenez Sherry has created a complex and well-balanced malt. It’s a delightful interplay of malt and dark chocolate, alongside some hedgerow fruits and just a whisper of wood smoke. Perfect for an autumnal walk in the woods.

Nose: Rich malt, and dark chocolate. Autumnal hedgerow fruits,; fallen crab apple, soft cherry plums, blackberry, a touch of forest floor bracken  and a whisper of wood smoke

Palate: Sweet malty caramel and toffee richness. Fruit and nut chocolate, Oak driven spices and some dark fruits, and that wood smoke returns at the drying finish. I’m a big fan!

Speyside 

Craigellachie Batch 15, 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 49.1% abv 376 bottles rrp £64.95

A rich and complex flavour profile, combining the sweetness of PX with the nuttiness and depth of Oloroso. Robust and indulgent whisky, the dual Sherry influence introduces a symphony of dried fruits, nuttiness, and sweetness, creating a layered and complex dram. The interplay between the rich, sweet PX and the nuttier, more nuanced Oloroso contributes to a well-balanced and sophisticated profile.

Nose: Rich, sweet aromas of raisins black cherries and dried fruits, alongside nutty notes of almonds and walnuts, while Intense dark chocolate and underlying notes of caramel and vanilla, bringing a sweet and creamy balance.

Palate: A medley of dried fruits; figs, dates, black cherries and raisins, alongside a rich, velvety, nutty, chocolate mousse, all complemented by oak-driven undertones and gentle spices.

Glenrothes Batch 13, 14 Year Old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 59.6% abv 336 bottles rrp £64.95

While a little spicy at bottled strength, add some water for a well-balanced, and sophisticated 14 Year Old Glenrothes, finished in Oloroso casks. The influence of the Sherry cask imparts a deep complexity, with a harmonious interplay of dark fruits, sweet chocolate, and warming spices.

Nose: Intense and rich Oloroso Sherry aromas, with notes of dark fruits; raisins, figs, and dates. Dark chocolate and cocoa notes with a hint of warm spices; cinnamon and nutmeg, adding complexity.: Subtle vanilla sweetness from the wood, complemented by oak undertones.

Palate: Abundant dried fruit flavours, with raisins, sultanas, and figs taking the forefront. Sweet toffee and caramel notes, contributing to a rich and velvety palate. Oak-derived spices, balancing the sweetness with a touch of warmth.

Glenrothes Batch 14, 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 53.8% abv 351 bottles rrp £249.95

This is a lively 25 Year Old Glenrothes. This single hogshead was obviously well used before this distillate was filled into the cask, perhaps originally destined for the Cutty Sark blend that this distillery has been so well known for. However I’m glad it didn’t get blended away as this is just lovely.

Nose: Fresh and zesty. Lemon drizzle cake, candied tangerine peel, juicy pink grapefruit, a hint of salty liquorice and some grassy, leafy herbs; cress, rocket perhaps.

Palate: Citrus and vanilla; Lemon puff biscuits, lemon juice, sweet grapefruit, lightly floral, slightly waxy, with some sherbet too. I like this!

Speyside #2 Batch 3, 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled at 51.6% abv 131 bottles rrp £149.95

I really don’t know where this 25 Year Old single malt comes from, but it has a comforting familiarity to it. Is it the honeyed sweetness, an intrinsic character of this malt, that shines through the lighter wood influence of the refill cask maturations? Honeyed sweetness, fruitiness, and malt complexity taking centre stage, refill barrels imparting elegance and subtlety. This is really rather tasty.

Nose: A prominent honeyed sweetness with vanilla notes. Fruity aromas; hints of ripe apples, pears, and a touch of citrus. A rich maltiness with gentle oak undertones, with less emphasis on overt wood spices.

Palate: A velvety, creamy mouthfeel Layers of sweetness with toffee and butterscotch richness. Continued fruitiness, with nuances of dried fruits; apricots, papaya, and figs A hint of nutmeg too.