Scottish Spirits

Expert Reviews

Falstaff Magazine - Harmonious aromas with notes of vanilla, sweet dried fruit, coffee, citrus and sherry nuances. Also very harmonious in the mouth with a sweet opening and an intense taste experience through to the long, spicy-sweet finish. - 94

Wine Enthusiast - Silky and downright succulent, this Scotch is made with two types of oak casks—as the DoubleWood name suggests—but it's really all about the influence of the ex-Sherry cask. Aromas suggest golden raisins and dried apricots. The silky palate starts out moderately smoky, but glides into a richer, honeyed, nutty profile that finishes with cocoa and clove accents.

Producer Description 

The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old Single Malt which gains its Distinctive Character from being matured in two woods. During its period of maturation The Balvenie DoubleWood is transferred from a Traditional Oak whisky cask to a First Fill Spanish Oak Sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt- the traditional casks, having previously held Bourbon, soften and add character, whilst the Sherry Wood brings depth and fullness of flavour. 

Master of Malt writes:  This was first created over a century ago by the Dewars master blender. White Label contains around 40 different whiskies in the blend, with Aberfeldy at its heart.

Nose:  Honey, peach, apple and wood.  Cut hay. Palate:  Medium, vanilla fudge, smoke, toffee, heather honey, oak.

Finish:  Good length, cut herbs, honeyed sweetness.

Expert Review

90-95 points: Wine Enthusiast | Off-dry malted barley and light toffee smells greet the olfactory sense along with flowery fragrances of heather, rose petal and pine. Entry features sweet grain and candied apricot tastes; the midpalate is mellow, malty, fruity (white raisins, apricots) and sophisticated. Ends on a buttery note. Remains the Speyside benchmark.

Expert Review 

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Soy sauce, olive brine, peat, honey, oloroso Sherry, brewer's yeast, bread dough, barley malt and cigar smoke in the bouquet. The flavor that magically includes the innate intense peatiness of Islay malts and the masterly employment of oak barrels phase defines "classy Islay.? Concludes sweetly, without sacrificing the tangy, astringent peatiness that is inherent. Gorgeous.

Producer Description 

Lagavulin 16-Year-Old is satisfying in a way that many other things are not. You might not like it, but if you enjoy whisky, it is essential for you to buy a bottle of Lagavulin 16, and drink it. It might take you the rest of your life, but it’s important.

Appearance:  A deep, dusky amber.

Nose:  Oh, geez. There’s peat, first of all, a big, pungent whack of it, laced with smoked fish and driftwood and salty rocks. But underneath that, there’s a great big ocean of sweet, caramelized malt, all baked apples and cobbler crust. Plenty of industrial character, too—soot, rubber, hot electrical equipment, and that magical, grimy petrichor of a dirty urban sidewalk after a summer’s rain.

Palate:  You know that saying “turns to ashes in your mouth?” This is like the opposite. At first, it’s like a mouthful of recently extinguished ashes—charred, powdery, astringent—but then a lush, maritime garden quickly comes into Technicolor focus. Basically, Lagavulin 16 tastes just like a real boat: varnish, diesel, salty nets, ocean spray, and the sticky lanolin-rich smell of a thick wool sweater a hardworking man has been wearing one too many days in a row. Over several minutes in the glass, ghosts of fruit emerge—orange and red cherry, mostly—but never seem to break through the low-hanging haze. That’s alright – a suggestion is enough.

When people talk about Scotch whisky, maritime imagery comes up a lot. So let’s start with a beach metaphor.

Wonderful Glenmorangie is like visiting a beach in San Diego. It’s great! It’s 85 degrees, it’s sunny, the water is warm, and everybody’s having a fantastic time. Lagavulin is like a visit to the Oregon Coast. Describe the experience objectively—it’s cold, it’s grey, it’s rainy, there’s not much to do and certainly no place to swim without a dry suit or a death wish—and some might wonder why bother going at all. To others, there’s nowhere else in the world they’d rather be.

Sunny beaches are terrific. But sometimes you need an experience with a little more grit, something that reflects the grimy, complex, trying, sometimes objectively bad experience of real life. For times like that, there’s Lagavulin. It’s peaty, medicinal, pungent, smoky, a Band-aid factory in the throes of catastrophic meltdown, and when you really need it, nothing else will do.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Bright topaz in the glass, this 12-year-old blend of over 40 whiskies has a pleasant fresh apple and vanilla scent. Polished, versatile and flavorful, look for creamy caramel and vanilla accented by dried orange peel and honeysuckle. - K.N. 

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker has the luxury of having exclusive access to Scotland's very best whiskies, ranging from the powerful west coast malts all the way to the more subtle east coast flavors. Black Label draws upon all these aromas to create a unique blend with a smooth, deep and 
complex character.

Black Label retains the authenticity of its creator and currently outsells every other deluxe blended Scotch whisky around the globe. That it's stood the test of time is a testament to the pioneering spirit and the skills of the House of Walker. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Bright topaz in the glass, this 12-year-old blend of over 40 whiskies has a pleasant fresh apple and vanilla scent. Polished, versatile and flavorful, look for creamy caramel and vanilla accented by dried orange peel and honeysuckle. - K.N. 

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker has the luxury of having exclusive access to Scotland's very best whiskies, ranging from the powerful west coast malts all the way to the more subtle east coast flavors. Black Label draws upon all these aromas to create a unique blend with a smooth, deep and 
complex character.

Black Label retains the authenticity of its creator and currently outsells every other deluxe blended Scotch whisky around the globe. That it's stood the test of time is a testament to the pioneering spirit and the skills of the House of Walker. 

Producer Description 

Blending premium whisky isn’t just something we do, it has been the foundation of our craft since 1800. We bring together the finest ingredients to create a natural spirit before the passing of time imparts the wonderful flavour from our handcrafted casks. 

Add to this the fusion of skilled craftsmen and a tenacious obsession with quality and you arrive at our Famous, rich, sweet, well-rounded whisky. 

The single malt whiskies used in The Famous Grouse blend include the Edrington-owned Highland Park and The Macallan.

Expert Reviews

The liquid within The Famous Grouse is very high quality and in fact one dram of The Famous Grouse is sold every three minutes in the UK making it the biggest selling whisky in the United Kingdom, so it must be doing something right. Now we have that cleared up…

Greg’s note: Very delicate, more so than expected, A hint of grain but not too much, there’s a sweetness there but not sickly, more subdued, like a warming dessert. A really good blended whisky for the price and one that a lot of people should reconsider.  - GreatDrams.com

 Producer Description 

Mahogany. Full, slightly sweet; toffee, ginger and dried fruits accompanied by sherry and cloves. Rich in both dried fruit and sherry, with a subtle toffee sweetness and pleasant touch of spice flavour with a touch of sherry sweetness and wood. Medium long. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Look for a rich butterscotch scent and a hint of fresh apricot. On the palate, this Sherry-matured single malt layers on concentrated caramel, butterscotch and custard, finishing long and spiced on a hint of orange peel. 

Expert Review 

The Dalmore 12 is recognized as a whisky with character far beyond its age. The spirit is initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks, yielding soft vanilla and honey notes. A proportion of the spirit is then finessed in pinnacle Sherry casks, including 30-Year Old Matusalem Oloroso casks, exclusive to The Dalmore, to give the whisky a rich, nutty character. 

Producer Description 

The Botanist is the first Islay Dry Gin and a progressive and sustainable exploration of the botanical heritage of our remote Scottish island. The Botanist is a gin of layered complexity. A progressive exploration of the botanical heritage of our Isle of Islay.

Nine classic gin botanicals are augmented by 22 local herbs and flowers, foraged responsibly and by hand from the hills, shores and bogs of this fertile Hebridean island by our own professional forager. The result is a rollercoaster botanical odyssey in a glass.

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker Red Label is currently the world's best-selling Scotch Whisky. It's known for its bold and characterful taste, that's shines through even when mixed. It's a flavour the Walker family has never compromised on.

The Walker family have used their knowledge of Scotland's Malts to create a blend that has universal appeal. This has played a pivotal role in Red Label becoming one of the world's favourite Scotch whisky's. It's developed for an export market that has a taste for long, refreshing drinks. Red Label can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or combined with a favourite mixer.

Producer Description 

Discover the distinct flavors of the islands of Scotland with Oban 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This whisky holds a delicate balance of dried figs and honey-sweet spices followed by a long, smooth-sweet finish. The best of the Highlands and coastal influences, centuries of local distilling tradition are what make our whisky so exquisite. This spirit is best served neat in a tumbler, perhaps with a splash of cool spring water.

Expert Review

The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Look for pleasant sweetness and spice up front, as the nose offers a complex mix of oak, maple sugar, fresh apple, clove, black pepper and cinnamon. 91 Points 

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker Red Label is currently the world's best-selling Scotch Whisky. It's known for its bold and characterful taste, that's shines through even when mixed. It's a flavour the Walker family has never compromised on.

The Walker family have used their knowledge of Scotland's Malts to create a blend that has universal appeal. This has played a pivotal role in Red Label becoming one of the world's favourite Scotch whisky's. It's developed for an export market that has a taste for long, refreshing drinks. Red Label can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or combined with a favourite mixer.

Producer Description 

A blend of our rarest malts and most superior grains, matured to their peak, Johnnie Walker Blue Label represents our highest achievement. Blue Label recreated the flavors of the Walkers' early whiskies, in a bottle that also takes its design from the 19th century.

Every single component of the exceptional blend has been handpicked from exclusive distilleries, some of which are no longer in existence. We draw these components from extradordinary casks, usually one in every two million. As soon as they're discovered, they're set aside for Blue Label and matured until their absolute peak - however long that may take.

Producer Description 

The Glenfiddich 12 Year is distinctively fresh and fruity with a hint of pear on the nose. The palate for this single malt is characteristically sweet, with undertones of butterscotch, cream, malt and a hint of oak. It finishes long, smooth and mellow. See for yourself why this is one of the world's most popular single malts.

Producer Description 

Master of Malt writes:  This was first created over a century ago by the Dewars master blender. White Label contains around 40 different whiskies in the blend, with Aberfeldy at its heart.

Nose:  Honey, peach, apple and wood.  Cut hay.

Palate:  Medium, vanilla fudge, smoke, toffee, heather honey, oak.

Finish:  Good length, cut herbs, honeyed sweetness.

Producer Description 

Caribbean Cask has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. To create the ideal finish, Malt Master David Stewart filled American oak casks with his own blend of select West Indian rums. When he judged the casks to be ready, the rum was replaced with the 14 year old spirit and the wood was put to work adding the final touches.

The result is an exceptional single malt whisky with the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, married with notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish. Rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combines with fresh fruit notes. Rounded with vanilla and sweet oak notes, with a fruity character that develops with time. Soft and lingering.

Expert Review 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | After regular maturation, this Scotch is extra matured in former rum casks. The end result layers rich, mouth-coating dried apricot, honey and Sherry notes on top of Balvenie s usual caramel and light peat profile. It finishes flavorful, though with a distinct burst of alcohol warmth. 

Producer Description 

After 14 years maturing in casks that previously held Bourbon, malt master Brian Kinsman finishes this Scotch Whisky in deep charred new American oak barrels from Kentucky for a rich, sweet and vibrant malt.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Aged 14 years in former Bourbon barrels, this is an amber-colored whisky that s scented with vanilla and peach. The palate is also peachy, highlighted by hints of almond, oak and sandalwood. The finish is drying and lightly spiced.

Producer Description 

GlenDronach 12-Year-Old epitomizes our unyielding dedication to the mastery of our craft. Matured in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Spain, this richly sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky presents smooth vanilla, soft fruits and a memorably long, nutty finish, for which it has become renowned. This smooth scotch is bottled at 43%, non-chill filtered and natural in colour.

Producer Description 

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old single malt scotch whisky is deep gold in color, and leaves behind traces of sweet almond and spice. 

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old single malt scotch whisky gets its distinctive rich and exotic character from a process of selective maturation in which a proportion of the spirit is matured in French oak casks.

GOLD INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2022, 2024

GOLD WORLD WHISKY AWARDS 2023

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | The name of this whisky is a nod to how it s matured in three different casks: American Bourbon, Spanish oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry. It s robust, with a deep amber hue and rich caramel scent. The flavor profile shows toffee, campfire smoke and a mouthwatering butterscotch note on the exhale. It almost reads like a peated Bourbon.

Producer Description 

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance.

Typically most whiskies are chill-filtered and reduced to a strength of 40% ABV. Ardbeg Ten Years Old, however, is non chill-filtered and has a strength of 46% ABV, thus retaining maximum flavour, at the same time giving more body and added depth. It's whisky with none of the goodness taken out!

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | (Great Value,Tried & True Award)- Bright gold color. Reluctant bouquet is measured but potent early-on then with aeration it explodes in waves of sea salt, sea air, campfire. Flavor direction is all about the peat suddenly as the malt takes a back seat until the aftertaste when it reemerges with a bang.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | No shrinking violet, this copper penny-hued Scotch hits the nose and palate with a robust but harmonious mix of toffee and peat smoke, in equal measures, finishing dry and spicy. Darkest is an apt description for a whiskey partly matured in former oloroso Sherry casks, which adds deep, raisiny tones.

Producer Description 

Grants Triple Wood Blended Scotch Whisky aged in three distinct woods for a smoother taste. Virgin Oak cask provides spicy robustness, American Oak lends subtle vanilla smoothness and Bourbon refill offers brown sugar sweetness, resulting in a smoother, richer, mellower taste.

Best enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktail that amplifies and enhances the flavor of the unique Grants Whisky. William Grant, the founding father of one of the worlds most loved Scotch brands opened his first distillery in 1887. Five generations of Grants have stood together through thick and thin to hold the title of Scotlands oldest continuously family-run, blended whisky makers.

Grants Triple Wood Whisky stays true to William Grants original, closely guarded recipe. It just goes to show that when the right people stand together, great things happen. The five generations of the Grants family have supported the tradition of responsible drinking and we want you to continue enjoying Grants Whisky in the same way. Grant's Whisky is patiently crafted for you to enjoy responsibly. Producer Notes.

Expert Reviews 

93 Points Whisky Advocate | Honey, vanilla, poached pears in cream, driftwood bonfires, and a sprinkle of wood spices comprise a clean, focused, and well-balanced nose. A golden and silky palate of sweet honey, vanilla, white chocolate, and lemon zest, with plenty of body. Enter caramel; the smoke cuts to the front, outstripping aromatic spices, orchard fruit, and baked citrus flavors. Compelling and moreish: drink whenever it’s raining in Glasgow and you can’t go wrong.

91 Wine Enthusiast | This robust bottling is a permanent addition to the Great King range, added in 2014. Light golden in the glass, look for a lightly smoky aroma with fresh pear notes underneath. On the palate, a waft of peat smoke mingles with lemon cream, vanilla and pear, flavors supplied by Sherry cask-aged whiskies. Slight salinity sets the mouth watering. Best Buy.

Producer Description 

Full, rich and smoky on the palate, with notes of baking spices and sherry wine notes. Producer Notes.

Producer Description 

Exemplifying our family’s tradition of innovation, our 15 Year Old expression is created using a technique pioneered by our Malt Master and its warm, spicy flavours are transformed with the alchemy of the Solera Vat.

Aged in European oak sherry casks and new oak casks, the whisky is mellowed in our unique Solera Vat, a large oak tun inspired by the sherry bodegas of Spain and Portugal. Never emptied, and kept half full of whiskies since 1998, our Solera Vat is the culmination of curious minds and the pioneering spirit of our family. It’s also the secret behind this whisky becoming the first 15 year old expression to enter the top ten best selling single malts. 

Producer Description 

Quinta Ruban 14 year has spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks, before being transferred into specially selected ruby port pipes from the Quintas or wine estates of Portugal.

Expert Review

Whisky Advocate 92 Points | This Quinta Ruban succeeds the 12 year old version, adding two additional years of finishing in port casks, while maintaining the same bargain price. The result is a symphony of understated opulence. Marzipan, fresh apple and pear, milk chocolate, red berries, candied ginger, and praline on the nose build slowly, leading into a fruity, spiced palate. Flavors of soft gingerbread, molasses cake, cherry pie, spiced plums, almond nougat, and dark chocolate intermingle with faint strains of pipe tobacco. It sings on the finish, with a parting crescendo of hazelnut, spice, cigar wrapper, and lengthy oak.