Easter-time drams full o' chocolate flavours

A classic Speyside dram, Aberlour 12 is a vatting of ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks. It carries notes of dried fruit (juicy raisins and sultanas) and vanilla toffee, leading into a slightly spicy and lingering finish. A very worthwhile replacement to the 10 years old.

A fine drop of Ardbeg bottled at high strength. A marriage of Ardbeg from bourbon barrels and sherry butts which gives a sweet and smokey finish to this malt. Uigeadail is the loch from which all Ardbeg's water flows. This year's batch of Uigeadail has more sherry influence and is an absolutely stunning whisky. Nose: the nose is deep and rounded chocolate caramels and barley sugar combine with dates, raisins and smooth sherry notes. The sweetness gives way to malted honeycomb, with flowering currants emerging through the smoky sweetness of a well-fired fruit pudding. Taste: Sweet, chewy and oily with a silky mouthfeel. Initially sweet, revealing fruit cake and treacle. This is followed by barbecued or honey roast food with the slightest hint of olives. Finish: Again long, both sweet and dry with honey, treacle and a trace of lint.

The first certified organic Single Malt Scotch whisky since 2006, this is the latest of Benromach's acclaimed 'Contrasts: Organic' series. Distilled in 2013 this follows previous releases unpeated spirit, matured in virgin-American oak. Offering an aromatic and sweet fragrant oaky note, rich with vanilla and toffees, the nose is creamy and malty as well. The mouthfeel is creamy again with banana custard, moving to coffee and cocoa flavours. Fully accredited by the UK Soil Association, this is a rare example of totally organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The Signet from Glenmorangie is a fantastic departure from the usually light and delicate spirit, and hails from a time when the maltings were still operational at the distillery. Aromas of decadent treacle plum pudding and candied orange peel with an underlying hint of espresso.The heavily roasted 'chocolate' malt gives the Signet a rich chocolate / mocha flavour on the palate, complimented by more of that syrupy plummy , dark fruit flavours and warming spices.

This 11 year old Glenrothes is an excellent addition to the Gordon & MacPhail 'Discovery' range. An example of everything you'd want from a sherry cask matured whisky; on the nose there is a distinctive note reminiscent of a box of Sun-Maid raisins and rich toffee. To taste, raspberries and blackberries mingle with hints of cinnamon and charred oak. This whisky boasts a beautifully creamy mouthfeel with a lingering finish of butterscotch sauce, milk chocolate and a suggestion of orange.

This 15 year old whisky from the iconic Macallan distillery has been maturing in two sherry-seasoned types of casks, American and European oak. The nose has rich dried fruits, toffee, vanilla, and baked apple. To taste, the very soft and gentle palate has notes of sweet raisin and sultana with wood spice and citrus. The finish lingers with notes of ginger, caramel and citrus. A true classic of Speyside.

Produced entirely from specially selected ex-Oloroso sherry casks, this latest batch (007) sees a rich aroma of vanilla sponge, caramel-drizzled fruits and raisin cake. A dense flavour of date joins baked figs with brown sugar tones. The sherry cask flavour gives way to a note of orange peel and cracks of peppery spice. Bottled at natural cask strength.

This expression from Thomson is a blend of Thomson's own New Zealand Whisky, as well as hand selected imported Whisky, which is then married and aged further in Thomson's own casks. Two Tone refers to the 2 kinds of cask used for the maturation of this Thomson whisky - European oak which formerly held New Zealand red wine, and American white oak used exclusively for whisky. 

Subtle notes of sea spray can be found on the nose, along with caramelised fruits, which is followed by a palate of abundant sweet fruity notes and light baking spice.