Appearance: Oloroso, brilliant clarity, 8/10 viscosity.Nose: Big baked stone fruits and dark vanilla, old oaked sherry, and warm caramel with crisp toffee. Very old oak and sweet tobacco.Taste: Very big, round and smooth, concentrated dark malts with sherry, a hint of dark chocolate, brittle toffee and licorice.Finish: Long, warm sherried and old oak

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 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.

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.

Oban Little Bay is crafted by selecting small batches of their finest single malt whiskies, and marrying the whiskies in their smallest casks to allow more contact with the wood. This unique process, combined with the expert nose and palate of Malt Master, Dr. Matthew Crow, delivers a richer, smoother OBAN® expression with the signature distillery character of citrus and sea salt.

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.

Part of Diageo's stable, Mortlach enjoys a cult status amongst whisky drinkers thanks to its thick, meaty texture. That unique spirit comes from a complex and unique distillation program, which sees the new make pass through a number of stills of varying shapes and sizes. In the end, it is said that Mortlach distill their spirit 2.81 times. The complex regime results in a thick, meaty spirit - one of Scotland's thickest - and has been prized by independent bottlers and drinkers since the vaunted 16-year-old Flora & Fauna release put it into the public psyche.

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.

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.

The Glen Grant 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky matures in the highest quality, handpicked oak casks, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma. Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet and pleasantly spicy finish.