Tastes

Candy apple, cinnamon-vanilla oats and macerated maraschino cherries. This isn't exactly subtle about sweetness nor strength (there is noticeable burning) but it still drinks easy and straightforward enough. Apple, pecan and baking spice shine the ethanol off and the maple-like after notes keep it 'smooth' enough to be reasonably sessionable. Definitely drinkable.

Lightly peated: offers ashy vegetation and grassiness but not emphatic with them. A lot of iodine and medicinal impressions initially. Very little depth but flavours include singed peanuts, seaweed, traces of ginger and honey and oily planked salmon. There's a bit of bacon fat on the finish. Enjoyable but entry level.

Apple pie with light mulling spices. Plenty of beeswax, enough to extinguish any heat, as this is a very smooth, highly honeyed dram. Unbelievably easy drinking with chewy almond and vanilla biscuit. Simple, but good value.

The aroma has chunky candied orange peel and ginger pieces, some brown sugar and vanilla custard. The seared oak staves are a little astrigent and woody on the palate but there's no shortage of cinnamon-y, caramelized and cupcake flavours. Real tasty for 47%.

Ten years in charred oak has lent some toasty almond and vanilla notes but by and large hasn't disguised much of the whiskey's inherently grainy, grassy qualities. This is a very sociable, pleasant dram, albeit one lacking complexity.

A rubbery nose with loose phenols and no shortage of boozy dried fruit esters. The palate is more refined but its oily, smoky caramel flavours, faded citrus and light brine don't stand well on their own. Better with blend or ice.

A Scotch will all its edges sanded down until creamy vanilla smooth. Tastes like nutty nougat and marzipan with citrus peel and creme brûlée accents. Honeycomb toffee and coconut make an easy finish and high degree of drinkability.

Not off to a great start: a medicinal aroma combines applesauce with tarnished old pennies. The palate, fortunately, is much more agreeable. Soft fruit notes from the sherry, toffee-ish malt and a bright splash of lemon. It's easily drinkable but I understand why most people consume it in shots - there's nothing to savour here.

A very faint complexion indeed indicative of a dram lacking a little in character. A no-frills flavour profile with light grassy herbals, medium white pepper heat and an occasional diesel note that gives way to a gentle malt finish. Perhaps a hint of lavender or custard but little imparted from the oak. So 'clean' there's little expression.

1994 Vintage bottled in 2010. Pale, glinty golden complexion. Aromas of slivered almonds baked with a pinch of cayenne, the marzipan continuing onto the palate along with bergamot, nougat, great big golden raisins and Werther's Original. A mellow, mature, and immediately likeable dram.