Highland

Described by Jim Murray as �a malt that should adorn a shelf in every whisky-drinking home�, anCnoc 12 Years Old is light yet complex. Smooth yet challenging. And each twist and turn delivers a surprise. In fact, this is a dram that has something for everyone.

The elegant and approachable Balblair 12 Year Old is the first whisky in the Balblair Collection and has been matured in a combination of double-fired American oak casks and ex-bourbon casks. The result is a whisky with a warm, complex character and a sweet, citrusy aroma. The palate offers notes of oranges, honey and cinnamon before a long, creamy finish with hints of vanilla and leather.

It's the third release in the now age-statemented Balblair collection, a delicious 18 year old expression. This single malt was initially matured in bourbon oak casks, followed by a lovely finish in first-fill Spanish oak butts. A delightful and rich after dinner dram.

Nose: Nutty with sherried notes. Gentle peat. Crisp. Palate: Good body, malty and sweet. Citrus and the peels thereof. Finish: Peat smoke, syrup. Good sweetness, bittersweet, drying.

The Western Highland representative in Diageo's 'Classic Malt' series, Oban 14yo is a superb, full-blooded fruity malt with a whiff of heather and more than a hint of smoke.

Nose: A warm coffee house in Seattle; roasting beans, the oily nuttiness in a fine espresso, there are little notes of malt and cereal and butter from the pastry counter with rich orange from the fruit bowl on the counter. Palate: Notes of Seville marmalade and triple sec with winter spices and fruitcake. Zesty cocoa and milk chocolate. Finish: Medium, oranges.

The new, relaunched 12 year old, this single malt has been bottled at a slightly higher proof, negating the necessity for chill-filtration and as such retaining more of its original charm. A lovely dram from the Deanston distillery. Nose: Light, cereals, zesty orange marmalade. Barley. Palate: Soft, nutty, caramel. Touch of salinity. Oak. Finish: Soft, quite abrupt, caramel.

Original is the core bottling in the Glenmorangie range, released to replace the old 10 year old. This really is a classic malt, so creamy and fruity. Nose: Very fruity and thick. Rich notes of lemon, nectarine and apple. Spices. Palate: Fresh and balanced, vanilla. Boiled sweets, very creamy, tiramisu, toffee. Finish: Quite long, gentle, malty and very fruity.

A bustling seaside resort has grown up around the distillery in the two centuries since it was first built in the fishing town of Oban. The West Highland malt is still produced in the same unhurried, traditional fashion and this 14 year old is a classic dram from the distillery. The nose is rich and smoky. The medicinal notes are quite evident with notes of the sea; seaweed, tarry ropes. There are…

The Distillers Edition bottlings from the Oban distillery are rather ace indeed. Not only does it give us an excuse to enjoy Oban's top-notch whisky (as if we need any other excuses other than "it's yummy"), but it shows off the wonderfulness of Montilla Fino cask-finished whisky, which doesn't happen nearly as much as we'd like it to. This particular bottling features whisky distilled in 2003 and…

A bustling seaside resort has grown up around the distillery in the two centuries since it was first built in the fishing town of Oban. The West Highland malt is still produced in the same unhurried, traditional fashion and this 14 year old is a classic dram from the distillery. The nose is rich and smoky. The medicinal notes are quite evident with notes of the sea; seaweed, tarry ropes. There are…

A very popular highland dram, with a big sherry presence alongside sweet citrus fruit notes and a faintly detectable whiff of brine. Picked up the top prize in its category at the World Whisky Awards 2010.

A favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, being conveniently situated close by Balmoral Castle. Royal Lochnagar was originally a key ingredient in VAT 69, but most production is now for single malts. Diageo's smallest distillery and another that has worm tubs. The character here is grassy: think hay and straw rather than lawn clippings. There's just a hint of cereal behind, and a fresh, roa…

Added to the distillery's core range in 2014, Tomatin 14 year old is aged in Bourbon barrels before being finished for a year in Port pipes. The first release from the distillery to be finished in this wood, it's fruity with a slight nuttiness.

Aroma Delicate elderflower and apple blossoms layered with creamy vanilla. Summer pear and fresh-cut grass aromas open into candied lemon. Taste Banana, peach, and thick honey flavours lightly dusted with cocoa powder. Traces of creamy vanilla unfold into a gentle herbal edge. Finish Lingering oak slowly fades to reveal soft hints of citrus.

Nose: Citrus peels and allspice. Notes of creamy vanilla, golden syrup, cocoa butter and black pepper. Palate: Spiced palate entry with notes of candied orange and Seville marmalade. A little dried pineapple and white chocolate. Finish: Medium finish with lingering sweet spices. Overall: Superbly fruity whisky with a lovely influence from a dessert wine cask

This is a delicious whisky from Tullibardine, released in 2013. It sees the Highland whisky finished for 12 months in 228-litre Red Burgundy wine casks from Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet.

A reinvigorated release from Tullibardine, upping the quality of presentation as well as their whisky. This bourbon barrel matured dram is packed with vanilla and spice.