A well-rounded bourbon with brown sugar, oak, spice and fruit, it delivers an oily mouthfeel and long, evolving finish, though it lacks an extra “wow” factor.
A robust, rustic Strathisla packed with melon, green tea and green fruits; austere and not the easiest, but excellent nonetheless.
A wonderful old Speysider, herbal and spicy with fruit peelings, candied lemon, liquorice wood and a signature unsweetened café latte note.
Ben Nevis 2003 (WhiskyNerds)
Powerful and hugely spicy, it erupts with concentrated lemon juice and fierce chilli before settling into bitter citrus and measured heat.
A charming, fruity whisky with barley, lemon, green apple and grapefruit, praised as naturally expressive and notably better than standard J&B bottlings.
It’s so fruity and refreshing, with spiced fruit, candy notes, apricots, apples and cherries stealing the show.
A magnificent, bone-dry sherry profile with walnuts, cedarwood, mustard, tobacco and massive salinity; another fairly spectacular Pulteney.
A hugely powerful, intensely salty and briny dram with chalky minerality, sharp vitality and a finish so coastal it feels like swallowing an oyster.
Bruichladdich 2008 Oloroso (Halcyon Spirits)
Lovely notes of passion fruit and mango mingle with coastal smoke, camphor and delicate peat, creating a magnificent, complex dram.
This surprising Braeval is genuinely good, with candied citrus, chilli, capers and olives developing into a long, herbal finish.
Sharp, herbal and almost acerbic neat, this Braeval improves with water, revealing lemons, green apples and a welcome barley-syrup sweetness.
Benromach Contrasts: Côte-Rôtie Cask
Ben Nevis 1973 (Thompson Bros)
A vibrant, fruit-driven whisky with mirabelles, apricots, quince and citrus, complemented by buttery croissants, almond milk and a fresh Earl Grey finish.
Pleasant, well-made and thoroughly enjoyable, with peach and apricot jam, pastries, candied ginger and a peppery, slightly bitter, oaky finish.
