The Chivas Brothers have a long and esteemed history in the art of blending rare Scotch whisky. This expertise is on display here with the Royal Salute 21 Year Old. Beginning where others end, the 21 Year Old is a complex Scotch, ranging from lemon and tea to chocolate and coconut. Available in the now famous porcelain bottle that comes in three different colours representing the jewels inlaid into the Crown Jewels. Sapphire blue, emerald green and ruby red.Please note: Specific bottle colours cannot be chosen online

Ardbeg's latest annual offering comes with a curious title that's due to a production modification. Head of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden removed the purifier, which typically catches the heaviest vapours from the distillation process. The purifier is also responsible for Ardbeg’s balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness. The resulting whisky is "all peat". In fact, Ardbeg says that it's their most full-blown expression ever with an intensity of flavour that's unmatched. A spokesperson for the brand describes the flavour profile as, "Defined by a distinctive pungent earthiness, aromatic clouds of dark chocolate, a billow of aniseed and cinnamon, and a lingering tang of sharp peppermint." Dramface.com add "According to an interview Lumsden participated in for WhiskyCast, the experiment which gave birth to this year’s release was conducted 12 years ago. Even allowing for time of year and the time taken to dump casks, blend, package and distribute, it’s safe to assume this bottling is at least 11 years old, given that Lumsden claims the experiment was only ever conducted in one batch." We've just received our allocation. The whisky's unusual conception is brought to life with accompanying graphics created by celebrated comic artist and illustrator, Dilraj Mann. The nose is slightly reticent while the flavour profile leans towards smokey dark chocolate, oily malt, chimney soot and white pepper followed by a dried herbal quality. The aftertaste is ashy, drying, medium long and vaguely fruity in a mezcal kind of way. Like last year's Ardbeg Day release (Ardcore), Heavy Vapours is not quite as intense or complex as anticipated, although it does taste slightly more mature and feels like the texture is amplified, particularly at the finish where cured meats and a salt'n'pepper tang recall middle-weight Caol Ilas. In a word, more elegant than "extreme". 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

To create its well rounded flavour, Glenmorangie 18-Year-Old Extremely Rare Malt spends fifteen years maturing in American white oak casks, then approximately 30% is transferred into Spanish Oloroso casks for a further three years. Then both elements are blended back together to create a whisky with a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavour.

NOSE : Intense berry fruits merge with creamy vanilla and rich caramel with hints of freshly-baked gingerbread. TASTE : Beautifully balanced and full of character. Blackcurrant and liquorice dominate in the first instance, then chewy caramel toffee and chilli-infused chocolate come to the fore. FINISH : Rich and satisfying. Dark chocolate and caramelized raisins linger on the tongue long after the last sip is taken.

Dalmore, located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, deep in the Scottish Highlands has been making single malt whiskies since 1839 and the bottles still bear the stag crest of the Clan Mackenzie. Their Cigar Malt Reserve is a wonderful blend of three different oak types of 10-15 year old whiskies. White American oak, 30 year old Matusalem Olorosso Sherry casks and Premier Cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques. The final blend has an enveloping aroma and flavour of the finest hand-made cigars; rich and smoky and extremely long lasting.

Bakery Hill is a new Australian venture into the generally exclusive world of Whisky production. We say exclusive, because few distillers outside of Scotland have yet managed to create a whisky that approximates to the quality or style of the Scottish original, or when they have, the whisky has usually relied upon the importation of key ingredients from the ‘homeland’. Bakery Hill’s Single Malts, despite their youth, are very promising initial efforts, and as the spirits spend longer in barrel, one can anticipate some very interesting results. As with classic malts, Bakery Hill uses only malted barley [ from Tasmania ], yeast and water to achieve its flavour and aroma. No caramel is added in order to enhance the appearance. Barrelling at Bakery Hill is done using select second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels. French Oak casks are also used for the production of the classic double wood style. "The malt development on the palate is quite beautiful. A soft distant smokiness adds excellent weight to the lilting malt-oak richness." 46% Alc./Vol. - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2004.

Ardbeg's Corryvreckan replaced the discontinued Airigh Nam Beist . Unusually dry for Ardbeg, otherwise an utterly brilliant, unique expression of Islay. Tasting note: Dull gold colour with pale straw hue. quite an unusual nose for an Ardbeg. Rich chocolate, vanilla, lemon butter and spice above a smoky salty layer, the only evidence that it's Ardbeg is the end note of terracotta/clay/wet charcoal. With time in the glass, fresh smoky characteristics emerge, but do not dominate. The intense palate is initially rich and creamy, quite heavily peated, rich chocolatey flavours mingle harmoniously with the lemon butter before the unusually overt oak grips dry and the peat explodes - softly! The back palate is dry, firm, overtly oaky, and extremely spicy. Excellent balance at cask strength. Warm, tingly, spicy finish. Lemon, dry cocoa, strong spice and gentle smoke dominate the lengthy aftertaste. Austerely dry by Ardbeg standards but one of their best on record. 57.1% Alc./Vol.

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.

A rich and complex Scotch, finished in Caribbean Rum casks with toffee sweetness, notes of vanilla and hints of new leather. The Rum casks give the Scotch just the perfect kiss of exotic spice. Best enjoyed neat, with a splash of filtered water or over ice.

Since 1896 all Mortlach whiskies have been 2.81 distilled. Unlike with any other whisky, our spirit criss-crosses between six copper stills of completely different silhouettes 0.81 more times than is Scotch tradition. It is an exact science graced with a touch of magic from The Wee Witchie.The Wee Witchie is the smallest of our six stills. Since it was first forged more than 120 years ago we have fastidiously ensured every dent and detail remains unchanged because it is within this copper chamber that the specific richness of taste which has earned Mortlach the reputation as The Beast of Dufftown is created. We dedicate this 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky to the still that bears the beast. It has been double cask matured in both European and American oak to enhance the distinctively rich and robust character that makes Mortlach whiskies legendary.