Top Shelf After Dinner Scotch Single Malts

Another fine bottling from the triple wood maturation this whisky sees. Two types of wood, American and European, previously containing sherry and American ex-bourbon barrels are used to age this series.

The whisky is aged for 9 years in ex-bourbon american oak before being split; half ages for the three remaining years in ex-Sherry butts and the other half remains in the ex-bourbon casks. The 12 year is a benchmark of the style of whisky Dalmore sells: fruit forward, plush, sweet, and rich.

Auchentoshan is one of the few remaining Lowland distilleries in existence. Located just outside of Glasgow, they are also the only ones in Scotland still triple distilling their product, formerly a common occurrence for the Lowland area. The Triple Wood expression was first released in 2002 and is aged in ex Bourbon casks before being aged in Oloroso and then Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.

Aberlour which translates to “mouth of the chattering burn (aka a tributary)" in Gaelic, is a humble distillery located in the heart of Speyside where the Lour Burns joins the River Spey. This expression from the Distillery Aberlour which has been producing whisky since 1812, is a 16 year-old single malt Scotch and is matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts before being bottled at 86 proof.

Independently owned, Glenfiddich is the largest single malt whisky seller in the world. The first to market and sell their whisky as single malt whisky back in the 1960's when blends dominated the world market, they started a trend that has no signs of slowing down. Glenfiddich shows no intention of resting on their laurels. In November 2014, the brand's core range was redesigned and this whisky now includes "Small Batch Reserve" on the label. Their 18 year old expression has been aged in both Oloroso Sherry Casks and Bourbon casks; ‘tis a fine example of a marriage between the two.

Located in the Highlands where it is quite remote and windy, the Dalwhinnie Distillery is a distillery that doesn't quite get the press it deserves. It is a whisky that displays classic Highland malt qualities of honey and heather. This is one of the original six distilleries in Diageo's Classic Malts range and they release very few distillery bottlings. This is a peated single malt, but the amount used is so low some may not be able to detect it.

Yes, you've read that name correctly, this does indeed come from one barrel. The bottle you buy will only have 300 or so exact duplicates. Their Malt Master have chosen a distinct style as a benchmark and then select other like barrels to bottle as such. Aged in one 2nd fill American oak barrel, this is hand numbered and bottled at 47.8% abv.

Family-owned Highland distillery Glenfarclas 17 Year was matured exclusively in European oak ex-oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 86 proof.

This bottling is a departure from their Extra Matured line which use The Original as a base before finishing in a wine cask. The 18 Year is aged for 15 years in ex-bourbon casks, then a third of this is finished in ex sherry casks while the remaining continue to mature in their barrels until all of the whisky is at least 18 years old.

Shudder to think that Highland Park 18 has only been with us since 1997. What were we drinking instead? With the highest of accolades awarded in the whisky world under their belt, one wonders what is their secret to success. The selection and creation of the casks has to be part of the recipe. Using both European and American oak, casks are built to their specifications and sent off to Jerez to be filled with Oloroso Sherry. Three years later, they get them back and the journey begins.