Aberdeenshire. Glendronach 12yr Forgue, Aberdeenshire 3.65 A dense, heavily sherried dram best suited to after dinner sipping.

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1 Malts Aberdeenshire 25ml Fettercairn Fior Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire 3.85 Fior means pure or true in Gaelic. Tasting of dark chocolate, coffee beans and peat smoke, with nutmeg, mint, citrus fruits and truffle. The finish is said to be of sherry trifle, marzipan and pineapple. Fettercairn 24yr Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire Elegant and dignified, with a clean and fresh fruit bowl of flavours over a peaty carpet. Green apple and pear are also in the mix. Glen Grant 10yr Rothes, Aberdeenshire 3.30 A gentle, delicate 10 year old single malt, a great beginner's whisky, vanilla and toffee apples on the nose with a dry, supple peat finish Ardmore 10yr Huntly, Aberdeenshire 3.30 A young peaty number from an excellent distillery, a gold medal winner in its category at the World Whisky Awards 2010 Glendronach 12yr Forgue, Aberdeenshire 3.65 A dense, heavily sherried dram best suited to after dinner sipping. Glendronach 15yr Forgue, Aberdeenshire 4.50 Originally matured in European oak before a finishing period in Moscatel, which has added an extra layer of tropical fruit and marzipan aromas and flavours. Glen Garioch 1991 Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire 8.95 Dry with smoky charred wood/peat and apple fruit Glenugie Deoch an Doras Peterhead, Aberdeenshire A very special whisky, particularly for those sherry-heads out there, so much going on in this dram that it ll keep surprising you right up to the last sip. Royal Lochnagar 12yr Ballater, Aberdeenshire 3.30 A favourite tipple of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert, the distillery being conveniently located near to Balmoral castle. Toffee & little yellow flowers was how one insightful taster described this liquid. Royal Lochnagar Muscat Finish Ballater, Aberdeenshire 4.50 Finished in Muscat barrels, the complex wine and fruit nose witll keep you coming back time after time. Like a nice, rich, rice pudding Ancnoc 16yr Huntly, Aberdeenshire 3.85 A top-quality proponent of the non-sherried style, showing polished malt and a delicious spiciness throughout a warm, complex palate and lasting finish. Glen Garioch 1797 Founders Reserve Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire 3.70 Pronounced Glen Gaeriee, after a re-branding to bring the packaging bang up to date this bottle doesn t let down

2 Speyside The Macallan 10yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.30 Clean & crisp with some caramel notes, the taste is sweet & malty with hints of sea salt The Macallan Fine Oak 15yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.90 Probably the pick of the fine oak Macallan bunch & matured in sherry & bourbon casks for a bolder, punchier flavour The Macallan 18yr Banffshire, Speyside 'Best Malt in the World': The Macallan 18 years old, Whisky Magazine, June Enough said, we say. The Balvenie 12yr Doublewood Banffshire, Speyside 3.30 One of the classic after-dinner malts, Balvenie Doublewood's extra complexity and richness are a result of a second maturation in fresh sherry casks. Glenfiddich 12yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.30 Light and easy-drinking stuff loved by millions. Glenfiddich 21yr Banffshire, Speyside 8.95 A replacement for the popular Gran Reserva (itself a replacement for the Havana Reserve), Glenfiddich 21yo is still finished in rum casks, although the rum is simply referred to as 'Caribbean' after the unfortunate controversy the old Havana Reserve caused amongst our American brethren. Benromach 10yr Forres, Speyside 3.30 A well balanced dram with hints of fruit & nut and traces of sherry, elements of ripe forest fruits develop with a delicate and rounded smoke present Benromach Origins Forres, Speyside 3.30 A full bodied single malt that displays rich fruity notes, intertwined with peat smoke and soft spicy flavours. Benromach Organic Special Edition Forres, Speyside 3.30 The entire production process of this malt has been certified by the Soil Association, not surprising to hear then that only the finest organic products have been used during the process. Benromach Peat Smoke Batch Forres, Speyside 3.30 Made using the finest Optic barley for a fresh, subtle liquid which is subtly malty on the nose with hints of hay, and sweet tropical flavours Aberlour 12yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.30 One of the best value Speyside malts around. This double matured version is a mix of traditional oak and sherry casks and is rich and fruity with delicious Christmas cake. Aberlour A bundab Banffshire, Speyside 3.85 A strong, heavily sherried no-age-statement, matured exclusively in Oloroso casks. This is probably one of the best-value cask strength whiskys around. The Singleton 12yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.30 A smooth, mellow dram with an approachable & rich nose followed up, appropriately, with a light sweetness on the palate (blackcurrant, brown sugar, espresso.)

3 Tomintoul 14yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.70 Built in 1965 the distillery is situated in Avonside, the highest village in Scotland. A delicate soft & floral nose followed by a light, soft creamy taste. Ben Raich 15yr Longmron, Speyside 3.70 Benriach Distillery was founded in the 1890 s and is situated on the outskirts of Elgin next to its sister distillery Longmorn. Sweet with a dark rum finish. Connoisseurs Choice Braes of Glenlivet 1975 Braeval, Speyside 8.95 Built less than 30 years ago, the majority of the production is used for the Chivas Regal blend. Delicate with melon notes, combined with a subtle oakiness. Connoisseurs Choice Allt A Bhainne 1991 Banffshire, Speyside 4.35 Pronounced Alt-a-Bane. Matured in refill Bourbon barrels, the result has a sweet, fruity character with limes, bubblegum and cream soda all detectable. Connoisseurs Choice Glendullan 1993 Banffshire, Speyside 3.80 Founded in 1897 this was the last of the original seven distilleries of Dufftown to be built. Ripe fruit notes & a sweet vanilla edge. Connoisseurs Choice Glen Elgin 1995 Elgin, Speyside 3.95 The famous architect Charles Doig, who designed the distillery, predicted it would be the last built for 50 years. He was correct, with the next being Tormore in the late 1950 s. A delicate whisky with sherry wood and floral/lavender flavours Cragganmore 1993/96 Distillers Edition Banffshire, Speyside 4.50 Founded in 1869 by John Smith (son of George Smith, Glenlivet), for some Cragganmore is the home of the definitive Speyside malt. A complex nose of sweet, floral fragrances, riverside herbs and flowers with some honey and vanilla. The palate is of a strong malty taste, with hints of sweet wood smoke and sandalwood. Cu Dhub Black Whisky Invernesshire, Speyside 3.30 A black whisky, produced to replace the infamous but much loved Loch Dhu and now developing a bit of a following. Cu Dhub means Black Dog in Gaelic. Cardhu 12yr Banffshire, Speyside 3.50 Clean, crisp oak and sweet malt evoking flavours of honeyed flapjacks and home-made caramel squares, this is one for the sweet-toothed among you. Mortlach 16yr Keith, Speyside 3.95 Respected whisky writer Michael Jackson stated: All the pleasures of good Speyside malt are to be found in Mortlach. Delicate, fragrant and highly perfumed with a sweetness and subtle spicy edge.

4 Highlands Oban 14yr Argyll, Western Highlands 3.70 The Western Highland representative in Diageo's 'Classic Malt' series is a superb, full-blooded fruity malt with a whiff of heather and more than a hint of smoke. Aberfeldy 12yr Perthshire, Highland 3.30 The distillery was built by John Dewar &Sons in 1896, despite major reconstruction some of the original buildings still remain. A balanced whisky with hints of fruits and spices. Dalmore River Dee Dram Ross-shire, Highlands 3.85 The River Dee is revered the world over for its picturesque beauty, clean crisp waters and of course its exceptional salmon fishing. In Recognition of this remarkable river, one of the worlds greatest and most beautiful salmon rivers, Dalmore have created a unique expression of the Dalmore as a celebration of the Dee, and those who love her Dalmore River Spey Dram Ross-shire, Highlands 3.85 The River Spey is world-renowned as a classic Salmon fishing river which runs through the heart of Scotland s malt whisky country. Dalmore River Tay Dram Ross-shire, Highlands 3.85 The mighty river Tay is renowned as the largest of Scotland s great salmon rivers. The Silvery Tay is steeped in fishing legend and is famed for Salmon of prodigious size. Dalmore River Tweed Dram Ross-shire, Highlands 3.85 The Tweed is the most prolific salmon river in the British isles, flowing majestically through the beautiful and historic Borders countryside from its source high in the open hills above Moffat. Mackinlay s Shacklton Rare Old Highland Malt Highlands Painstakingly recreated from the original bottles recovered from famed explorers expedition to Antartica in 1907, Shackleton Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt is a blended malt containing whisky from a range of Highland malts, including Glen Mhor, which was the original Mackinlay s distillery before it closed in Dalwhinnie 15yr Inverness-shire, Highland 3.85 A somewhat complex nose. The whisky slides onto the palette with ease, then politely shows its colors. The immediate group of flavours doesn't last long and finishes with a sweet, fresh vegetal note Dalwhinnie 1991 Inverness-shire, Highland 7.50 The second edition of the Dalwhinnie Distiller's edition, this is finished in fresh Oloroso Sherry casks, giving extra richness and sweetness on top of the regular Dalwhinnie characteristics. Glenmorangie 10yr Tain, Highlands 3.30 Glenmorangie's 10yr sets a high standard for Highland whisky, and has gone from strength to strength as 'The Original' since its slightly controversial packaging redesign a few years ago. Medium-bodied and gently warming, with pleasant spicy notes. As We Get It 8yr Highland & Island 3.85 Only very small quantities of As We Get It are bottled at any one time because to ensure the highest quality. Each individual cask is personally selected by the distilleries Rare Malt Expert for bottling straight from the cask.

5 Old Putney 12yr Wick, Highlands 3.30 From a first fill sherry butt, the whisky has developed a deep, golden colour. The whisky has all the Pulteney character balanced with the rich, nutty fruitcake flavours from the cask. Glencadam 10yr Angus, Highland 3.50 This is styled as 'The Rather Delicate Highland Malt'. Unchilfiltered, with no colouring and bottled at 46% - this is what we like to see.

6 Islands & Islay Talisker 10yr Carbost, Skye 3.30 A powerful peat-smoke, sea-water saltiness with the liquor of fresh oysters, and a citrus sweetness. A rich, dried-fruit sweetness with clouds of smoke and strong barley-malt flavours, warming and intense. At the back of the mouth is an explosion of pepper. Huge, long, warming peppery finish with an appetising sweetness. Bunnahabhain 18yr Port Askaig, Skye 9.50 A smooth, slightly sherried dram with all the understated elegance one would expect from the gentlest malt on Islay. The epitome of Bunnahabhain's soft Islay style. Highland Park 12yr Kirkwall, Orkney 3.30 Highland Park 12 yo remains one of the gold standard malts for other distilleries to aspire to. With delicious heather honey sweetness and a warming, silky mouth feel, this is a whisky that never lets you down. My old Dad s favourite. Highland Park 25yr Kirkwall, Orkney Highland Park 25 Year Old is an outstanding malt whisky imbued with richly satisfying qualities. Here, the very essence of Orkney is distilled - the peat, the sea breezes, the heather-honey. These are allowed to mature until it has reached an unqualified perfection. There's an exceptional finesse to the 25 year old with additional dimensions of malty toffee, fudge and chocolate enriching the heather-honey sweetness and aromatic peatiness. It is universally acclaimed by the critics as one of the great single malts Arran 10yr Lochranza, Arran 3.30 Often referred to as Scotland in Miniature, the Isle of Arran at one time was home to more than 50 whisky distilleries. Founded in 1995, Arran distillery is situated at Lochranza, the most northerly site of the island s villages Hazelburn 10yr Campbelltown, Argyll 3.85 The 2010 official release for Hazelburn, Springbank's triple-distilled, unpeated single malt, which is now fully mature. It's quite a colour too, suggesting some sherry influence in the final make-up Springbank 10yr Campbelltown, Argyll 3.50 The relatively light colour belies its richness of character. The nose moves from citrus fruits to pears and a hint of peat, while the palate shows touches of smoke, vanilla essence, nutmeg, cinnamon and the salty tang characteristic of the distillery. A winner at the World Whisky Awards Laphroaig 10yr Port Ellen, Islay 3.30 A wonderfully rich nose of tarry peat with a distinguished, salt tang. A big body of peat on the palate, delicately smoked with notes of barley, oats, rich in character with a pleasant, lingering medicinal quality which draws out long into its caramel driven and dry, smokey finish. Lahproaig 18yr Port Ellen, Islay 8.95 In the sunlight, the 18 is reminiscent of liquid topaz a brilliant yellow-gold; on the glass, it is the colour of honeycomb and captured sunlight. This age is a replacement for the 15 year-old (Prince Charles's favourite whisky, lest we forget, and it'll be sorely missed when it's gone). This is a stronger, altogether gutsier affair at 48%.

7 Lagavulin 16yr Port Ellen, Islay 3.85 The Islay representative in the 'Classic Malts' series is a deep, dry and exceptionally peaty bruiser. Probably the most pungent of all Islay malts, Lagavulin is not for the faint-hearted but inspires fanatical devotion in its many followers. Ardbeg 10yr Port Ellen, Islay 3.50 Sweet peat, coal, Caramac bars, a faint floral soapy note, pepper and chilli. Very soft on the palate with a mellow entry, then the spices and peat come through in a big way. Powerful but with a balancing sweetness. The flavour is long and warming, with the smoke and pepper lasting longest Caol Ila 12yr Port Askaig, Islay 3.50 Medium weight, but still packing plenty of potent phenols, this is a refined, powerful dram with a compensating oiliness. A balanced, peaty beauty. Smokehead 18yr Isay 8.95 A longer-aged edition of Smokehead, the popular mystery Islay Single Malt bottled by Ian McLeod Distillers. Debate has raged over the identity of the distillery which supplies the whisky for Smokehead. We know, but we re not telling! Bowmore 18yr Argyll, Islay 7.95 A popular expression in Bowmore's ongoing range, this replaced the 17 year-old, which was phased out a few years ago. Fresh, with notes of salty kippers and coalsmoke.