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. 

The Macallan | Double Cask 12 Year Old | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Speyside, Scotland

The Macallan is one of the world's most revered single malt distilleries, situated on the Easter Elchies estate in the heart of Speyside, Scotland. Founded in 1824, the distillery has built its legendary reputation on an unwavering commitment to exceptional oak cask maturation — a philosophy that defines every expression in the range.

The Double Cask 12 Year Old is matured in a combination of American oak ex-sherry casks and European oak ex-sherry casks — a dual-cask approach that brings together the lighter, citrus-forward character of American oak with the richer, dried fruit and spice complexity of European oak. The result is a whisky of remarkable harmony and depth, accessible yet genuinely complex.

Golden amber in the glass. The nose is inviting and generous — sweet dried fruit, honeyed vanilla, caramel, and a hint of citrus, with warm notes of ginger and nutmeg. On the palate, beautifully balanced with sherry sweetness, ripe orchard fruit, toffee, and subtle spice. The finish is long, warm, and lingering — a hallmark of Macallan's mastery of the cask.

Bottled at 86 proof (43% ABV), the Double Cask 12 is approachable enough for new whisky drinkers yet complex enough to reward the seasoned connoisseur. Exceptional neat or on the rocks; also a superb base for a classic Whisky Sour or Rob Roy.

• Distillery: The Macallan
• Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Region: Speyside, Highlands, Scotland
• Age: 12 Years
• Casks: American oak ex-sherry & European oak ex-sherry
• Alcohol: 43% ABV (86 Proof)
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• International Review of Spirits — 95 pts: Rich whisky combining fruity citrus and caramel with spicy ginger and nutmeg. Double Gold Medal — San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017.

Glenlivet 12 Year Single Malt Double Oak Scotch Speyside 750ml

Distillery Notes

The Glenlivet 12 Year Double Oak is the definitive expression of Speyside elegance — the whisky that established the benchmark for the entire region. Matured first in traditional American oak casks, then finished in first-fill European oak, this double-maturation process adds a layer of richness and complexity that sets it apart. Approachable yet sophisticated, it is the perfect introduction to single malt Scotch and a perennial favorite for seasoned enthusiasts alike.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90–95 Points — Off-dry malted barley and light toffee greet the nose alongside flowery fragrances of heather, rose petal, and pine. Entry features sweet grain and candied apricot; the midpalate is mellow, malty, and fruity — white raisins, apricots — and thoroughly sophisticated. Ends on a buttery note. Remains the Speyside benchmark.

Whisky Details

Producer: The Glenlivet Distillery
Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
Maturation: American Oak + First-Fill European Oak (Double Oak)
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Size: 750ml
ABV: 40%

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old — The Gentle Spirit of the Highlands

Nestled in the Cairngorm Mountains at one of Scotland’s highest and most remote distilleries, Dalwhinnie produces whisky shaped by its environment — cold, clean air, pure Highland water, and the slow patience of time. The 15 Year Old is the distillery’s signature expression, and a benchmark for approachable Highland single malt.

The nose opens with heather honey, sweet peat smoke, and a delicate waft of beeswax — complex yet inviting. On the palate, flavors of warm honey, soft vanilla, and a whisper of citrus fruit unfold with a gentle smokiness that lingers into a long, smooth finish.

• Distillery: Dalwhinnie, Scottish Highlands
• Age: 15 Years
• Size: 750ml
• ABV: 43%
• Tasting Notes: Heather honey, sweet peat smoke, beeswax, vanilla, citrus
• Style: Light, elegant Highland single malt

Best enjoyed neat or with a small drop of water to open up the aromatics. An ideal introduction to Highland Scotch — and a bottle that rewards every return visit.

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky | Glasgow, Scotland | 1.0L

Scotland's best-selling whisky since 1800, The Famous Grouse is a masterclass in blending. Built on a foundation of Highland Park and The Macallan single malts, it delivers a rich, sweet, and well-rounded dram — warm enough for a cold night, approachable enough for any occasion.

Producer Notes

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.

Expert Review

Greg | GreatDrams.com — 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.

• Style: Blended Scotch Whisky
• Region: Glasgow, Scotland
• Size: 1.0L

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. 

The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak is the cornerstone expression of one of Scotland's most celebrated distilleries — a whisky that has defined the benchmark for sherry-matured single malt Scotch for generations. Crafted entirely in hand-picked, seasoned Spanish oak sherry casks from Jerez, this is a whisky of remarkable depth, warmth, and consistency.

On the nose, rich mahogany tones give way to aromas of dried fruits, toffee, and warming ginger, with a gentle undercurrent of clove and sherry sweetness. The palate is full and generous — layers of concentrated caramel, butterscotch, and custard unfold alongside ripe apricot and a subtle citrus lift of orange peel. The finish is medium-long, spiced, and satisfying, with a lingering touch of sherry oak and sweet wood.

"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."
— Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points

Details

Distillery: The Macallan
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Age: 12 Years
Maturation: Spanish Oak Sherry Casks (Jerez)
Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottle Size: 750ml

Tasting Notes

Nose: Dried fruits, toffee, ginger, sherry, clove
Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, custard, apricot, orange peel
Finish: Medium-long, spiced, sherry oak sweetness

Pairing Suggestions

Dark chocolate, aged cheddar, smoked almonds, or a classic charcuterie board. Equally exceptional neat or with a single drop of water to open the nose.

Lagavulin 16 Year Old — The Definitive Islay Single Malt

There are peated whiskies, and then there is Lagavulin. Distilled on the rugged southern shore of Islay and aged for a full 16 years, this is one of the most iconic single malts ever produced — a whisky that commands attention from the first pour and rewards patience with every sip.

The nose is immediate and unapologetic: a great wave of peat smoke, salted driftwood, and smoked fish, with a deep undercurrent of caramelized malt, baked apple, and oloroso sherry. On the palate, the smoke gives way to a lush maritime complexity — varnish, ocean spray, dark fruit, and a long, sweetly peated finish that lingers for minutes.

“Classy Islay” — Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points

• Distillery: Lagavulin, Islay, Scotland
• Age: 16 Years
• Size: 750ml
• ABV: 43%
• Tasting Notes: Peat smoke, salted driftwood, caramelized malt, dark fruit, oloroso sherry
• Style: Heavily peated, maritime Islay single malt

Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water. Essential for any serious whisky collection — and one of those rare bottles that never stays on the shelf for long.

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. 

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. 

Oban Distillery | 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky | West Highland, Scotland

Oban Distillery is one of Scotland's oldest and most storied distilleries, founded in 1794 in the small coastal town of Oban on the western edge of the Scottish Highlands — a town that grew up around the distillery itself. Perched between the rugged Highland mountains and the sea, Oban occupies a unique geographical position that gives its whisky a character unlike any other: the best of both the Highlands and the coast, shaped by centuries of local distilling tradition.

The 14 Year Old is Oban's signature expression and one of the classic malts of the Diageo Classic Malts range. Aged for a minimum of 14 years, it strikes a remarkable balance between the rich, honeyed sweetness of the Highlands and the subtle maritime influence of the sea air — a combination that has made it one of the most beloved and consistently awarded single malts in Scotland.

The nose is complex and inviting — dried figs, honey-sweet spices, fresh apple, oak, maple sugar, clove, black pepper, and cinnamon. On the palate, pleasant sweetness and spice with a gentle coastal salinity and a long, smooth, sweet finish. Best served neat in a tumbler, perhaps with a splash of cool spring water to open up the aromas.

• Distillery: Oban Distillery
• Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Region: West Highland, Scotland
• Age: 14 Years
• Alcohol: 43% ABV (86 Proof)
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• Wine Enthusiast — 91 pts: Pleasant sweetness and spice up front. Complex nose of oak, maple sugar, fresh apple, clove, black pepper and cinnamon.
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition — Gold Medal

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.

Johnnie Walker · Red Label · Blended Scotch Whisky · Scotland · 1.0L

Johnnie Walker Red Label is the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky — a title earned through more than a century of blending expertise and an unwavering commitment to bold, characterful flavor. The Walker family built Red Label as a whisky for the world: drawing on malts from across Scotland’s four great whisky regions — Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, and the Islands — to create a blend of universal appeal that holds its character whether served neat, on the rocks, or in a long drink. A flavor the Walker family has never compromised on. Now in a generous 1.0L format — the smart choice for the home bar.

Bold and characterful on the nose with smoky, spicy, and fruity notes. On the palate, it is robust and warming — vanilla, dried fruit, and a signature smoky finish that shines through even when mixed. Versatile, consistent, and built for every occasion from a Friday night G&W to a classic Highball.

• Producer: Johnnie Walker (Diageo), Scotland
• Style: Blended Scotch Whisky
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Regions: Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside & Islands
• Format: 1.0 Liter
• Tasting Notes: Smoke, spice, vanilla, dried fruit, bold and warming finish
• Serve: Neat · On the rocks · Highball with soda · Whisky & ginger · Classic cocktails

Blended Scotch Whisky — the world’s #1, bold and characterful across four Scottish regions. Built for mixing, built for sharing. 1.0L.

Blended Scotch Whisky | Crieff, Perthshire / Scotland
Size: 1.75L Magnum  |  ABV: 40%

The Famous Grouse has been Scotland’s best-selling blended Scotch since 1980 — and for good reason. Founded in 1800 at the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff, Perthshire, it is built on a philosophy of meticulous blending: bringing together premium malt and grain whiskies, maturing them in handcrafted casks, and letting time do the rest. The result is a whisky that is rich, sweet, and beautifully well-rounded — approachable enough for everyday enjoyment, refined enough to command respect.

This 1.75L Magnum is the ultimate format for entertaining — generous, impressive, and built for sharing. Warm honey, dried fruit, and a hint of sherry on the nose; smooth and mellow on the palate with notes of vanilla, toffee, and a gentle oakiness. The finish is clean, balanced, and satisfying. A crowd-pleaser in the truest sense, and a staple of the Scotch world for over two centuries.

“Blending premium whisky isn’t just something we do, it has been the foundation of our craft since 1800… a tenacious obsession with quality and you arrive at our Famous, rich, sweet, well-rounded whisky.”
— The Famous Grouse

Serve: Neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water or ginger ale.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, aged cheddar, shortbread, or a classic Burns Night supper.

The World's Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is the expression that introduced millions to the world of single malt Scotch. Crafted at the family-owned Glenfiddich distillery in Speyside, Scotland, this iconic whisky has been setting the standard since 1963. Aged for a minimum of 12 years in the finest American oak and European oak casks, it delivers a signature fresh, fruity character that is unmistakably Glenfiddich.

Producer Description

Distinctively fresh and fruity with a hint of pear on the nose. The palate 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.

Tasting Profile

Appearance: Pale golden
Aroma: Fresh pear, subtle oak, hints of cream and malt
Palate: Sweet butterscotch, cream, ripe fruit, gentle oak spice
Finish: Long, smooth, and mellow

Perfect Pairings

• Neat or with a drop of water
• Classic Whisky Sour
• Rob Roy
• Smoked salmon and charcuterie
• Dark chocolate

Details

Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Age: 12 Years
Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Size: 750ml

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.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old — The Most Richly Flavoured of All Scotch Whiskies

From the remote southern shore of Islay — an island whose name means "the beautiful hollow by the broad bay" in Gaelic — comes one of the world’s most distinctive and beloved single malts. Laphroaig (pronounced La-froyg) is not a whisky that asks for your approval. It announces itself boldly and leaves a lasting impression.

Malted barley dried over Islay’s unique peat fires gives Laphroaig its unmistakable character: a deep, pungent smoke layered with seaweed, campfire ash, and smoked fish on the nose, followed by a palate of earthy sweetness, toasted barley, and a long, oily, medicinal finish that Islay devotees find utterly irreplaceable.

“Great Value” — Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points

• Distillery: Laphroaig, Islay, Scotland
• Age: 10 Years
• Size: 750ml
• ABV: 43%
• Tasting Notes: Blue peat smoke, seaweed, campfire ash, toasted barley, heather, medicinal finish
• Style: Heavily peated, maritime Islay single malt

Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of cool water to open up the aromatics. Roll it on your tongue and let Islay come to you. A benchmark bottle for any serious whisky collection.

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 

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. 

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 

An elegant, composed and stylishly vibrant spirit that showcases the absolute finesse, purity, definition and elegance of organically grown barley. Late summer barley. Opens on a light almond note with a twist of candied lemon. Followed by the magical aromatics of toasted barley, floral and fruit notes with a hint of lemon honey intermingling beautifully. Toffee sweetness comes from American oak cask and as the spirit opens little drifts of succulent papaya, melon and kiwi can be found. 

The texture is sensational, the spirit gliding over the palate like warm syrup. The taste buds love the purity and the sensational clarity of flavours being presented. A real sweetness on the front palate, barley sugar, honey almonds, green jelly beans, pear drops all splashed with fresh lemons and balanced by the crispness of malted barley. 

An intensity and definition of flavour that is unparalleled. Incredibly fresh giving an unforgettable palate experience that leaves the taste buds tingling and overwhelmed. 

Highland Park 12 Year Old — Orkney Islands, Scotland

Highland Park is one of Scotland's most celebrated and distinctive single malt distilleries — located on the remote Orkney Islands at the very northern tip of Scotland, where the wild Atlantic climate, ancient Viking heritage, and unique local heather peat combine to create a whisky unlike any other. Founded in 1798, Highland Park is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries and one of the few remaining to still malt a portion of its own barley over Orcadian peat — a practice that gives the whisky its signature balance of honeyed sweetness and gentle, aromatic smoke. The 12 Year Old is the distillery's flagship expression: aged in a combination of sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, it is regularly celebrated in spirits competitions worldwide for its uncompromising quality and exquisite balance.

The color is warm amber. The nose is vivid and inviting: crème brûlée, tangerine, charred peach, and smoked kindling, with a light, briny vanilla character and a rising veil of smoke. On the palate, heather honey, dried fruit, warm spice, and salty sea smoke intertwine with silky, elegant texture. The finish is sultry and long — brown sugar and toasted nuts with a lingering hint of smoke. A whisky of rare harmony and completeness.

Wine Enthusiast 93 — "Elegant, light and pretty. A light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch, leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish."

• Producer: Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
• Age: 12 Years
• Style: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Casks: Sherry-seasoned European & American oak
• Region: Islands (Orkney)
• ABV: 43%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Crème brûlée, tangerine, charred peach, heather honey, dried fruit, warm spice, sea smoke, brown sugar, toasted nuts
• Best Enjoyed: Neat, with a drop of water, or over a large ice cube
• Best Paired With: Dark chocolate, smoked salmon, aged cheddar, charcuterie, peated cheese

The benchmark island single malt — Highland Park 12 is honeyed, smoky, and one of the world's most perfectly balanced whiskies.

Another Hendrick's is a new expression of Hendrick's Gin that is not only a delicious new liquid but impactful new packaging. The Hendrick's flavor is enhanced by the velvety rich notes of cacao with bright citrus elements of orange blossom leading into a smooth finish.

Hendrick’s “Another” Gin is a distinctive limited expression from the iconic Scottish distillery known for its unconventional approach to gin-making. Crafted in small batches and bottled at 44% ABV, this release continues Hendrick’s tradition of balancing classic juniper character with unexpected botanical nuance.

Distilled in Scotland and presented in the brand’s signature apothecary-style bottle, this expression offers a refined, aromatic profile designed for curious gin lovers and collectors alike.

Producer Description 

Imagining the ultimate single malt whisky for mixing, we worked with top bartenders to craft a sweeter and richer Glenmorangie, perfect for enjoying in all manner of drinks.

To achieve our whisky’s wondrous cascade of taste, we draw on our epic array of casks. And so our freewheeling single malt comes to life, with swirling aromas of pear and vanilla setting the stage for rich orange sherbet and fudge. X by Glenmorangie is wonderful mixed with any flavour you choose (and as you’d expect, it is also delicious neat.

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.

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 

Johnnie Walker Double Black is inspired by the iconic flavors of Johnnie Walker Black Label and turns them up to create a Scotch blend of unprecedented intensity. Strongly influenced by powerful and peaty West Coast and Islay Single Malts, Johnnie Walker Double Black is best enjoyed with water to unlock its complex layers of smouldering spice and smoke. An impressive blended scotch to share, whatever the occasion.

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 

Spicy, mellow smoke with honeyed sweet maltiness and hints of pepper on the nose. The first taste is rich & sweetly mellow followed by a spicy heat with elegant balance of sweet, smoke & salt, and a clean, warm finish. 2020 SIP Awards Platinum winner.

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 

Brilliant gold. Powerful peat-smoke with sea-water saltiness, 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. Peppery at the back of the mouth. Finish: Huge, long, warming and peppery in the finish with an appetizing sweetness.

Hendrick’s Oasium Gin — Girvan, Scotland | 750ml

Hendrick’s Oasium is the 8th expression in the Cabinet of Curiosities — and the most unexpectedly inspired. Master Distiller Lesley Gracie travelled to a faraway desert oasis (yes, she really did — camel polo was involved) and returned with a vision: the vivid colours, aromatic herbs, and bright fruits of a lush desert paradise, distilled into a gin like no other. Built on the iconic Hendrick’s DNA of cucumber, rose, and precise juniper, Oasium layers silky verdant green botanicals, deep delicate herbal tones, and a bright citrus finish into something genuinely extraordinary. The name is pronounced oh-ace-e-yum — and once you taste it, you’ll understand why.

The nose is fresh and aromatic: lush green herbs, citrus blossom, and a whisper of juniper. On the palate, silky verdant green notes sing in harmony with fresh aromatic herbs and a wonderfully bright, invigorating citrus finish. It is Hendrick’s at its most refreshing — and it was born to be served in a Gin & Tonic. For the adventurous, an Oasium Fizz with pink grapefruit is a revelation.

• Producer: William Grant & Sons, Girvan Distillery, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Expression: Oasium — Cabinet of Curiosities, 8th Edition
• Style: Aromatic herbal Scottish gin with bright citrus
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lush green herbs, citrus blossom, juniper, verdant botanicals, bright citrus finish
• Best Served: Gin & Tonic with a slice of pink grapefruit; Oasium Fizz; Hendrick’s Martini

A desert oasis in a bottle from Scotland’s most curious distillery — Hendrick’s Oasium is the benchmark for herbal, citrus-forward gin.