Scotch Single Malt A-Z

This expression from Tullibardine distillery has been matured for twelve years with a three year secondary maturation in Palo Cortado casks, bringing big sweet notes and hints of drying spice. Aromas of chocolate orange, golden syrup and liquorice waft from the glass as notes of Dark chocolate coated maraschino cherries, dried apricots and mango coat the palate, finishing with notes of coffee, salted caramel truffles and nutmeg that linger on.

This expression from Tullibardine distillery has been bottled after ten years of maturation in an ex Oloroso Barrique and a single Bourbon Barrel. yielding an outturn of 378 bottles. The nose is soft, rich and sweet, with aromas of freshly baked vanilla danish pastries, juicy syrup drenched peaches and hints of soft oak. Gingersnap cookies and sweet dry spices lead the way on the palate, married with touches of tinned fruit salad, with a gentle and sweet lingering finish.

This expression, bottled by Alistair Walker hails from an undisclosed distillery from the Isle of Islay. Matured for 16 years, with a finish in a single Ruby Port Hogshead, bringing sweet, sticky fruity and spicy notes to an otherwise phenolic dram.

The nose offers notes of soft peat, a humidor full of cigars, freshly ground black pepper and raw ginger along with rain soaked hot asphalt. The phenolic character continues through to the palate, married with juicy peach, apricot and blood orange notes and a bold spicy finish. 

This expression was distilled at an unknown distillery on Orkney before being matured for 24 years with a secondary maturation in a Moscatel Hogshead.

On the nose there are aromas of torched almond praline, rum and raisin fudge and fluffy Belgian waffles. To taste there are notes of creamy caramel fudge, stewed sultanas, and popcorn with toffee caramel sauce.

In light of their 200th anniversary, 1821 sequentially numbered bottles have been created from a selection of Wolfburn's finest casks: first-fill Oloroso sherry hogsheads, with a special addition of whisky from their very first cask, filled back in January 2013. On the nose we get figs and apricots mixed with soft oaky aromas. Honey-laced porridge meets stewed apples and sultanas on the palate while Wolfburn’s trademark heat comes to the forefront. Finally, dried fruit and caramel remains and is complimented with hints of lingering oak smoke.

Aurora is the second expression to come out of the Wolfburn distillery, founded in 2013 in the sea-side village of Thurso at the very northern edges of mainland Scotland. This new release is matured in a mixture of both American oak and ex-sherry casks, the latter bringing more nutty, orchard fruity flavours to the whisky. The malty, sea-side maritime flavour that comes from slow fermentation and oceanic maturing is there on the nose and finish. A brilliant new release from Wolfburn.

Batch 458 from Wolfburn was created from a 50/50 combination of two cask types: whisky matured in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks married with lightly peated whisky that matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. A rich, sticky tone of treacle and coffee join dry spices on the aroma, carrying over to a more nutty and clove-spiced flavour to taste. An integrated peat smoke sits behind treacle, lingering on the finish. Just 5,100 bottles are available world-wide.

Wolfburn's limited-edition Christmas 2022 release sees lightly peated spirit matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and second-fill quarter casks, matured for over seven years. A fresh, dry sea-air note starts the aroma, with heather blossom and a hint of peat smoke. On the palate, expect flashes of sultana, honey and treacle - with an appropriate note of Christmas cake icing (marzipan). The soft sweetness remains, drifting away with honey and warm caramel again. A suitably festive dram available while stocks last.

The Wolfburn distillery is one of the more remote distilleries in Scotland, situated a great distance from southern Spain, where these Manzanilla sherry casks were sourced from. The dry, nutty and salty flavour of this wood marries with Wolfburn's sea-side style, joining honey and pear flavours. To taste, a shifting tide of sweet barley gives way to a lingering, mellow dryness from the oak.

This new expression of the 10 years old is matured in a combination of Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, and American virgin oak. This dram has a balance of classic fresh orchard fruit, honey, and toasted oak, with a tiny hint of smoke. BenRiach distillery rose to fame under the legendary Billy Walker (who now operates GlenAllachie distillery) when Billy sold BenRiach management passed to veteran blender Rachel Barrie.

Matured for 18 years and presented in a bespoke gift box, this Glenmorangie has a mellow, soft yet complex flavour - initially starting with the creamy vanillas found in creme brulee and toffee, the flavours of the spirit and cask are underlined by Highland heather honey and delicate aromatic qualities. The taste is initially sweet, softened by a building and lingering nutty, dried fruit and sherry-cask wood.

This 14 year old release from Aberlour Distillery has been maturing in American oak casks and Sherry oak casks. There are initial notes of sweet vanilla and honey are found on the nose which develops into ripe cherries and creamy milk chocolate. The palate has notes of creamy caramel which complements deep notes of blackberry and blackcurrant jam with gentle ginger notes. The finish is long and sweet.

Named after the broad, beautiful bay the distillery sits above, this expression forms part of an entirely new lineup of this little-known Highland gem. A buttery vanilla and tropical fruit scented note leads the nose, with white chocolate and a touch of sea-salt. Salted caramel flavours join more fruityness on the palate, with pineapple and a tang of sweet-sour grapefruit.

From the famous Laphroaig distillery on Islay, this peated whisky is a combination of casks that represent classic Laphroaig styles. The nose has initial notes of smoky peat and the develops into notes of red fruits. The palate has sweet notes and dry peat with ashy notes. The finish is long with floral and marzipan and a slight citrus note.

From the northern edge of Islay, the Caol Ila distillery is known for a slightly more refined smoke character, with citrus fruit and and a gentle sweetness that mingles with the peat. Sophisticated and lingering, a great introduction to some of the smokier whiskies from the Island.

Colour rich, deep, golden mahogany. Nose intense and firm. Well structured with silky smooth malty tones - a hint of Oloroso sherry lingers in the background. It shows great finesse, extolling frangrances of orange, marmalade and spice notes. Taste, good attack on the mouth, more elegance than muscle. The aged Oloroso butts smooth its rich, fleshy body with great harmony. Almost a concentrated citric mouth-feel captivates and tantalises the middle part of your tongue. An aftertaste of great abundance rewards the palate. A Highland malt of great distinction.

The Draam is the Isle of Raasay Distillery’s signature single malt whisky. 46.4% ABV, natural colour, non-chill filtered. Lightly peated with rich, dark fruit flavours. This flagship whisky was first introduced in 2021 and officially named The Draam in 2025. The unique six-cask recipe created by Master Distiller, Alasdair Day, remains unchanged.

This single cask expression from the Elgin classic that is Glen Moray has been bottled from a single American Oak barrel, resulting in a wonderfully light and sweet dram. Notes of banana milkshakes and praline icecream burst out of the glass to meet the nose, along with rich marzipan, and ripe fruit notes of cherry and apricot emerging with time in the glass. The palate continues on with the banana notes, however dried this time, along with sweet wheat and complex waves of vanilla pods, sweet oak and cereal grains. The finish is long, smooth and sweet, giving dustings of cocoa, rice pudding and syrupy fruit salad.

The nose on the Bunnahabhain 18 is truly incredible - huge notes of rich honey, nuts, old leather, dried fruits and a hint of sea-side smoke. A distinct umami (the Japanese word for 'savoury', think soy sauce and dried meat) character and a truly to-die-for rich dark chocolate flavour push this whisky in to a league far beyond what its age and price would suggest. Highly recommended.

In this bottling of Ardmore, casks have been married together to showcase a nice dustiness, refined sooty ashes, old engine grease and soft menthol. Then mild leathery notes, mossy notes and burning hay. Yellow apples with lemon zest, toasted bread and drops of gentian. Slightly sweet, iodized smoke. Waxy and oily, with more sooty notes, camphor and wood polish. Mid-palate hints of roasted coffee beans appear, followed by firm salted notes, hessian and hints of old herbal liqueurs.

For the Marriage of Casks series by Single Malts of Scotland, a range comes together here, comprised of single malt Scotch whisky from an undisclosed Speyside distillery that was matured for a huge 31 years and then bottled at 48.3%. There were just 806 bottles of this one released, which boasts notes of orchard fruit, apricot, pineapple, ginger, floral honey, marmalade, and herbs.