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Unusual ageing cycle in wood, Lengthy & very fruity

The Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Ancient Reserve is a truly superb single malt aged in Oloroso (Sherry) and Bourbon casks. This has created an amazingly smooth, mellow, and full flavoured whisky.

Note: New blue packaging, not old brown packaging. While the twelve year old is a relatively non-descript malt, older Glenfiddich bottlings are now gaining high praise including one award as the world's best single malt Scotch whisky. However, as a representation of the house style, the 18 year old pretty much nails it. Always a centre-piece of the portfolio, the company has further emphasised its place by redesigning the packaging to give it a more superior look than its 12- and 15-year-old stablemates. The Glenfiddich distillery lies on the river whose name it bears. 'Fiddich' refers to the fact that the river runs through a valley inhabited by deers – hence the company's logo which features a stag. A proportion of the whisky in this version of Glenfiddich is supposedly even older than the label suggests. Tasting note: Deep gold colour. Moderate aromas include honey, clove and vanilla laced malt. On the palate, dried apricots and spice are augmented by soft peat, adding depth to the toasty malt. Plush mouth feel. Clean, dried fruit and spice finish. Rich and round, in the mainstream of Sherry influenced malts. 40% Alc./Vol.

Aberlour a'bunadh is a single batch single malt that is sourced exclusively from the Speyside region - abunadh meaning 'The Origin' in Gaelic. Straight from the cask without chill-filtration and alcohol reduction, this whisky is heavy bodied and jam packed full of flavour. Abunadh is not for the faint hearted as with each batch of Abunadh they mature the Aberlour spirit exclusively in Spanish Oloroso Sherry Butts. The nose, is simply Christmas in a glass. Dried dates combined with heavy spices, cloves star anise and cinnamon sticks with burnt orange in the back. The feeling of black cherries with luxury dark chocolate coat the mouth with sherry and oak laced into it. An extremely robust Scotch leaves a finish full of exotic spices and wonderful oaky notes.

Uniquely located on the border that separates the Lowlands from the Highlands, Glengoyne are also unique in that this historic distillery air dry their barley rather than the accepted Scottish practice of peat smoke drying. This imparts a subtlety and grace that other whiskies do not have. The 18 Year Old Single Malt has spent 18 long years maturing ex Sherry casks, the majority of which are first-fill. This patience has borne a whisky that shows spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. Enjoy neat or with a dash of pure distilled water to get the most out of this individual malt.

The process of Scotland's slowest distillation can be tasted in every dram of this Cask Strength Single Malt by Glengoyne. Hand-crafted from inception to glass, this single malt also shows the dramatic effect of warm air drying of the barley rather that using peat smoke. Bottled at the higher ABV of 58.7%, the balance between the subtle flavours imparted from the slow distillation and the power of the un-chillfiltered single malt imparts flavours of digestive biscuits, ripe bananas and a hint of pepper. Robust and full-bodied, this is a whisky of the utmost strength that should be enjoyed with some pure distilled water to your taste.

Family owned and run for over 170 years, the Glenfarclas distillery has produced a slightly smoky, spicy Scotch with a rich long lasting finish. The 15 Year Old is golden amber in colour, the nose shows rich oak and a hint of peat smoke, with soft fruity characters. It is firm-bodied with a luscious glorious oaky finish, with a touch of smoke and sherry sweetness.

An independent bottling from Gordon &; MacPhail of Glenturret single malt scotch whisky. This independent take on the Glenturret spirit offers sweet peat, ripe banana and cocoa powder with a smooth, creamy body. Truly an easy drinking Highland malt.