The Deveron 12 Year

This is not a big malt in the way that, say, Ardbeg or Macallan are. There's a delicacy here, a certain understated, peaceful, even quiet elegance. The Deveron does not shout to get your attention with enormous amounts of smoke or sherry. Instead, it's a calm, gentle invitation to savor the sweet, slightly floral aromas of vanilla, caramel, ripe apple, cinnamon, clove, and oatmeal, with just a hint of a distant fire and a pinch of white pepper. Palate-wise, you could call this a breakfast dram, but that would be damning it with faint praise - while it's gentle and light, it's also a creamy, delicately flavorful sip full of apple, vanilla, and oaty notes, with that playful hint of smoke drifting around in the background. It's a lovely fall whisky, and at less than $50, it's a decent value, to boot.