Dry sherry aromas mingle with stewed raisin and roasted hazelnut, complemented by a fresh citrus edge.

Creamy milk chocolate and orange zest flavours lead to spiced stewed fruits.  The finish is fruity with lingering citrus.

Filled from casks that were laid down at the Tomatin distillery in 2009, this new 'Discovery' release from G&M sees the exclusive use of American oak ex-bourbon barrels to produce a sweet and smooth single malt. The nose is intense with honey and fragrant pear, with a background note of spring blossoms. The palate is fruity with melon and white peach, leading to vanilla custard and a herbal finish that builds softly with oak spice.

A old age Speysider from Inchgower, independently bottled by Douglas Laing after 25 years  spent in a sherry butt REF - DL14183. An outturn of 242 bottles at 51.5% ABV.

Nose: Sweet and barley-rich initially, then comes tangerines, brown sugar and a damp oak style.

Palate: Lots of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) running to vanilla essence and stewed fruits.

Finish: Long – detect golden syrup, a slight floral character, milk chocolate and barley.

This was Tomatin was distilled in the Highlands in December 2008. 

It spent a decade in a single refill hogshead REF - DL13774, and was bottled by Douglas Laing in November 2019 with an outturn of 384 bottles at 48.4% ABV.

Nose: Big and richly defined in Malted barley, gentle spices and fruit.

Palate: Hits big with cereal, honey, vanilla and even a hint of salt.

Finish: Dark molasses mix interestingly with all the aforementioned (FHL).

Ledaig 23YO 1998 Black Series D.Laing is a vintage whiskey from Tobermory Distillery by Douglas Laing & Co. Whiskey distilled in 1998. It matured for 23 years. Whiskey bottled without cold filtration.

This whisky was distilled in 1989, and spent 30 years in a bourbon barrel (DL13917)before being bottled in April 2020. Just 280 cask strength bottles were released for the Xtra Old Particular series at 52.8% ABV.

Nose: Rich, darkly malted, intriguingly spiced and fruity.

Palate: Warming and ginger spiced as the big palate opens showing later Muscovado sugar and the gentlest oak - all running to a stewed fruit and vanilla custard finish.

Sweet vanilla and dry cured meat aromas.  Peat smoke undertones are complemented by banana and apricot.

Ripe Banana, kiwi and vibrant hints of fresh citrus, leading to a long, sweet and smoky finish.

An 11 year old Glenrothes which has been bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for its Discovery bottling series. The series separates single malts into three categories, 'Sherry', 'Smoky' or 'Bourbon' to give a (not so subtle) clue to its flavour profile. This is a wonderful sherried whisky, packed full of fruity and chocolatey notes.

Nose Cinnamon butter, chocolate covered toffee and toasted malt, with sherried dried fruit and more baking spices.

Palate Forest fruit jam on fresh toast, perhaps slightly burnt, with stewed orchard fruit and more cinnamon.

Finish Orange peel, a hint of raisin and melted dark chocolate.

Of all the distilleries in Diageo's portfolio, Glen Spey is the third smallest and remains one of the most obscure. Virtually all of its output goes into blends, in particular, J&B (which at the time of writing is the sixth biggest whisky brand in the world). Douglas Laing have bottled this rarity from a single refill hogshead REF - DL13903. Aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon arrive with a citrus zest while the palate promises strawberry candy, spiced oak, coconut shavings and milk chocolate.

One of 347 bottles

Still owned by Ian Macleod, this Southern Highlander is noted for its emphasis on sherry casks and unpeated malt. In this example from Douglas Laing, expect Glengoyne's typical clean, crisp barley combined with aromas of barley sugar sweets, gingerbread biscuits and new leather, followed by flavours of sponge cake, green apples and honey. 48.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 366 bottles from a refill hogshead REF - DL14574.

Douglas Laing's Old Particular range consists of hand selected malt and grain whiskies from all over Scotland and are neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

The Old Particular Deanston 25 Years Old matures for 25 years in the Refill Hogshead DL14182.

Distilled: June 1994
Bottled: May 2020

Limited to 224 bottles.

Nose: Green apples, dried figs, lime juice, coconuts.

Taste: lemons, toasted oak, orange marmalade, marshmallows.

Finish: Long lasting, cake, cereal, ginger.