The Macallan Lumina is an exquisite marriage of three select sherry-seasoned cask types. The Macallan Lumina directs the journey from the forests of the United States to Spain. European and American oak sherry-seasoned casks are combined with hogsheads to create a whisky that is grounded in the old world, but inspired by the new. Characterised by its bold flavours with notes of creamy vanilla, ginger and wood spice, this is a single malt whisky that guides Macallan's quest for excellence. The Macallan Quest Collection celebrates Macallans enduring desire to journey further and seek out the exceptional oak casks for which The Macallan is world-renowned. The Collection tells the story the unrivalled, tireless commitment to the mastery of wood and spirit. Each whisky is a new chapter in exploring the casks, flavours and aromas that begins in the forests and cooperages of distant lands and culminates in a singular Macallan experience. A rich sensory experience that reveals how hand picked, sherry-seasoned oak casks make the greatest contribution to the quality, natural colour and full flavours at the heart of this single malt whisky and The Macallan Quest Collection.

Lagavulin, pronounced 'Lagga-voolin' (meaning 'the hollow where the mill is') is distinctive and powerful. Once described as 'liquid bandaid' for its strong medicinal character, it is perhaps the most assertive, complex and intensely dry of all the Islay malts.The palate overwhelms like an ocean wave with powerful peaty, salty overtones that re-emerge on the finish. The taste sensation lingers long in the mouth. On a cold wet winters night, there is perhaps no finer tonic than a dram of Lagavulin.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dalmore has always set the highest standards in whisky craftsmanship. A pioneer in the art of cask curation, Master Distiller Richard Paterson has been the creative force behind The Dalmore for nearly five decades. Inspired by the vision of The Dalmore’s founder, Sir Alexander Matheson, and the achievements of the Mackenzie family who came before him, Richard is admired across the globe for his passion and innovative flair. The epitome of Dalmore's house style the 15 Year Old single malt is finished in different styles of sherry casks including Apostoles, Amoroso and Matusalem oloroso. This whisky has aromas of orange marmalade, cinnamon and nutmeg. Flavours of mandarin, vanilla, ginger and crushed apples flow across the palate to a peppery spice and oak finish.

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.

Crafted in the heart of Speyside and contains five of the most precious signature single malts, Chivas Regal Ultis is the first blended malt Whisky from the House of Chivas Regal. It pays homage to five generations of Master Blenders in what is an exceptional luxury whisky with complex flavours, a glorious golden hue and a commanding, rich aroma.