Hunter Laing & Co.

One of the team's favourite west-coast Scottish distilleries is Ben Nevis from the small town of Fort William. This is an incredibly rare example of its aged profile, distilled in 1991 and matured for 31 years prior to bottling from Hunter Laing & co. At this age it is extremely uncommon to see such a high natural strength, sitting at an astonishing 62.1%. Tasting notes from Hunter Laing describe a rich and concentrated flavour, with plums, blackberries and chococlate joining a very savoury character of beef stock and herbal amario type notes. The finish is rich with Europeak oak influence, lingering long and with great complexity.

Matured for 12 years in an ex-refill sherry butt, this single cask whisky hails from the Benriach distillery in the heart of Speyside. At its core, this is a classic Benriach, fruity with raisins and apricots surrounded by a blanket of heather honey and vanilla. A long note of milk chocolate coated dried fruit lingers in the finish.

Distilled in 2008 at the Inchgower distillery on the north east coast of Scotland, this 15 year old offers a light and summery style of whisky, with flavours of banana, berries and apple fruityness being developed after years of slow maturation. A buttery note of shortbread joins peppery spice to finish.

Laid down to matured in 2000 for 21 years at the beautiful Royal Lochnagar distillery, this new release comes from Stewart Laing's iconic 'Old Malt Cask' range. Charged from a refill hogshead, you can expect a fruity dram with a mineralic edge. The nose is very peachy, with toffee and a note of green ferns. The palate is richer with cherries and chocolate, with a spicy heat in the background.

Aged in a combination of refill ex-bourbon barrels and virgin oak casks for 10 years, this classic peated Islay whisky is softly smoky on the nose. Hints of leather and buttery, cereal notes develop. The palate is a treat of golden syrup and vanilla. As the peat smoke develops slowly it is joined by a gentle spice. A long and lingering finish which leaves you with lasting flavours of sweet peat smoke.

This higher strength expression of the Scarabus is full of the same sweet peat smoke as the standard release but with extra texture and body. On the nose notes of orchards fruits are joined by a peat smoke that develops as it sits in the glass. Flavours of creamy toffee and vanilla balance out the peppery spiciness. An impressive finish rich in honeycomb and a lasting ashy smoke.

Scarabus is a single malt whisky selected by Hunter Laing & Co. While the origin of this whisky is a mystery, it is a big dram, offering an aroma of sweet syrupy pears, white raisins, freshly roasting peanuts and plumes of peaty smoke. A briny sea-salt and leathery note adds depth, again nutty then spiced with mace and vanilla on a very oily and viscous mouthfeel. A fantastic dram and a must try for fans of Islay's oily, coastal peat smoke.