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Carlos Mendez on Spirit of Hven Dubhe / Seven Stars No.1 Swedish Single Malt Whisky

7/10

Solid but not life-changing

Had a dram at a whisky bar before committing to a bottle. It's perfectly nice — clean maltiness, some dried apricot, a hint of oak spice on the finish. Nothing offensive at all, just didn't blow me away enough to rush out and spend nearly a hundred quid on it.

Priya Sharma on Glenfarclas 1980 / 23 Year Old / Christmas Single Malt / Cask #11064 Speyside Whisky

8/10

Classic old-style Glenfarclas

Nose is all Christmas cake and stewed plums, which I suppose fits the Christmas Malt branding. On the palate there's a lovely mix of toffee, oak spice, and something almost like fig jam. I drink it neat at room temperature and it rewards patience — let it sit in the glass for 20 minutes and it really opens up.

Isla McCallister on Glen Moray 2014 / Peated Tequila Finish / Warehouse 1 Release Speyside Whisky

7/10

Interesting but the peat dominates

I wanted more tequila influence honestly. The peat is the star here and the finish feels more like a subtle background note than a real game-changer. Still a solid dram and well made, but for £93 I'd probably reach for a sherried Speyside instead. Worth trying before you commit to a bottle.

Ruth Banks on Macallan 1969 / 52 Year Old / Duncan Taylor Rarest Reserve Speyside Whisky

7/10

Exceptional but fading slightly

Don't get me wrong, this is a remarkable whisky, but at 52 years I felt the oak had started to dominate a bit. The fruit and spice are still there underneath but you have to look for them. Sipped it neat at room temperature and enjoyed it, but I've had younger Macallans that felt more alive and balanced.

Finn OBrien on Glen Scotia 14 Year Old / Icons of Campbeltown Release No.2 Campbeltown Whisky

7/10

Nice but a touch hot

The nose is fantastic — wax, orchard fruit, a whiff of smoke. On the palate though it stays pretty fiery even with water. I think another couple of years in the cask would have rounded this out beautifully. Still a decent dram, just not one I'd rush to rebuy.

Haruki Sato on Caperdonich 1969 / 50 Year Old / Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare Speyside Whisky

7/10

Lovely but I expected more drama

For a half-century-old single malt from a demolished distillery bottled by Duncan Taylor, I came in expecting fireworks. What I got was refined and graceful — toffee, gentle spice, stewed berries — but almost too polite. At 47.9% ABV it's well balanced and easy to drink neat, which is both a strength and maybe a missed opportunity. Gorgeous whisky, just not the earth-shattering experience the price tag promises.

Ruth Banks on Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

8/10

Converted me to Irish whiskey

I was a Scotch-only drinker until someone poured me this at a tasting. The combination of creamy pot still texture with that full cask strength punch completely won me over. Loads of dried fruit and warm spice on the nose, and the finish just goes on and on.

Valentina Ricci on Kurayoshi Pure Malt Sherry Cask Blended Malt Whisky

8/10

My go-to Japanese pour right now

I keep reaching for this over my other bottles lately. The sherry cask gives it this gorgeous dark fruit and toffee character, and it's smooth enough to sip neat after dinner. Really well balanced for a blended malt.

Clara Johansson on Blair Athol 2011 / 13 Year Old / Sangiovese Cask / Old Particular Highland Whisky

8/10

Solid Old Particular pick

Douglas Laing rarely let me down and this 13 year old Blair Athol is another good one from the Old Particular range. You get a nice balance of dried cherry and baking spice from the Sangiovese cask with that slightly waxy Highland character underneath. Not the most complex dram I've ever had but it's very easy drinking and well put together.

Zoe Chen on Basil Hayden Toast Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

9/10

Perfect gateway bourbon

Bought this for my partner who's just getting into whisky and it was a hit. Vanilla, toasted marshmallow, hint of cinnamon — nothing harsh at all. The 40% ABV keeps it approachable and we ended up finishing the bottle way too fast.

Wei Zhang on Distillerie de Paris Single Malt Whisky / Whisky Paris LMDW Selection French Whisky

8/10

Surprisingly refined for a young distillery

Been curious about French whisky for a while and this LMDW selection didn't disappoint. There's a creamy texture with notes of stone fruit and gentle spice that I really enjoyed neat. The 52.5% ABV is nicely integrated — doesn't burn, just warms. I'd buy it again if I spotted it on sale.

Felix Moreau on Benriach 2010 / 13 Year Old / PX Sherry Finish / Berry Bros & Rudd Speyside Whisky

8/10

Berry Bros picked a good cask

You can trust BB&R to select well and this doesn't disappoint. Rich PX sherry notes — think Christmas cake and stewed plums — sitting on top of a clean Speyside malt. I drink it neat with a splash of water. At 13 years old it's hit a sweet spot of maturity without being over-oaked.

Isla McCallister on Langatun 2017 / 6 Year Old / Rioja Cask Matured Swiss Whisky

7/10

Interesting but pricey for 6 years

Nose is all red berries and a hint of dark chocolate, which I really enjoyed. Palate has some nice toffee and wine-soaked oak notes. My issue is the £99 price tag for a 6 year old — I keep comparing it to what else I could get for that money, and it's a tough sell when solid Speysides exist at half the price.

Finn OBrien on Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2025 Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky

9/10

English whisky is having a moment

I bought this specifically because of the Yorkshire Day release and I'm so glad I did. The nose is all baked apple and toffee, and at cask strength it just coats your palate beautifully. One of the best things I've tried from an English distillery, full stop.

Astrid Nilsen on Pursuit Spirits Barrel Proof Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

8/10

Solid barrel proof sipper

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Natasha Volkov on Allt-a-Bhainne 2005 / 15 Year Old / Distillery Reserve Collection Speyside Whisky

8/10

Cask strength done right

I normally water down anything above 55% but this is so well balanced at 58.8 that I keep going back to it neat. Lovely mix of ripe fruit and gentle spice, with a warming finish that lingers. Fifteen years in the cask has smoothed out all the rough edges. Really enjoying this bottle.

Samir Patel on Glenmorangie 16 Year Old The Vindima / Litre Highland Whisky

8/10

Proper dessert dram

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. Dried fruits, plum jam, and a hint of orange peel — it's like Christmas cake in a glass. I drink it neat with a few drops of water to open it up. The 43% ABV keeps it approachable without feeling watered down.

Rafael Santos on Tamdhu 1989 / 34 Year Old / Cask #12881 / Connoisseurs Choice Upper Speyside Whisky

9/10

Worth every penny for a special occasion

Picked this up for my 60th birthday and I'm glad I did. At 34 years old the sherry influence is incredible — dried fruits, dark chocolate, and this lingering spice that just keeps going. The 54.8% ABV carries it beautifully neat, no water needed. Not an everyday dram at £950 but for what you're getting, I've seen worse value from other aged Speysides.

Suki Patel on Tamdhu 1989 / 34 Year Old / Cask #12881 / Connoisseurs Choice Upper Speyside Whisky

9/10

One of the best Connoisseurs Choice picks I've tried

Gordon & MacPhail really nailed it with cask #12881. Thirty-four years in wood and it still has punch at 54.8% — nothing tired or overly tannic about it. I get marmalade, baking spices, and a lovely waxy quality on the nose. Added a few drops of water and it opened up even more. Stunning stuff.

Hannah Brooks on Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength / Batch 012 / Bot.2020 Islay Whisky

8/10

Peat monster in the best way

Batch 012 is a beast at 60.1% but don't let that scare you off. I add just a few drops of water and it opens up into this incredible wave of iodine, smoked bacon, and sea spray. Probably the best value cask strength Islay you can get for around a hundred quid.

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