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Daniel Torres on Fettercairn Vanguard 1st Release Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

7/10

Nice whisky, nothing spectacular

Had this at a tasting event and bought a bottle afterwards. It's well-made and easy to drink — creamy texture with some orchard fruit and light oak. Wouldn't say it blew my mind though. For a no-age-statement release at £98 I expected a bit more complexity.

Nils Bergman on Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 1 Speyside Whisky

7/10

Nice but pricey for 40%

Look, it's Glenfiddich so you know the quality is there — light pear, vanilla, a touch of oak. But at nearly £94 for a 40% ABV with no age statement, I feel like you're paying a premium for the Perpetual Collection branding. I'd want at least 43% at this price point.

Ravi Krishnan on High Coast 2014 (Unpeated) / 9 Year Old / Cask 1218 / Adelphi Swedish Whisky

6/10

A bit one-dimensional for me

Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly pleasant whisky. Sweet, malty, touch of vanilla. But at this ABV and price point I wanted more complexity. The finish fades quicker than I expected. My partner loved it though so maybe it's just not my style — I tend to prefer sherried or peated drams.

Suki Patel on Barrell Vantage Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

7/10

Good but not blown away

Picked this up after hearing the hype and it's solid bourbon, don't get me wrong. Lots of vanilla and toasted oak with some fruit underneath. At £93 though I expected a bit more complexity — it's a touch one-dimensional on the finish for me.

Felix Moreau on MacPhail's 21 Year Old / Gordon & MacPhail Speyside Whisky

8/10

A classy dram for quiet evenings

Picked this up on a recommendation and I'm glad I did. Beautiful amber colour, nose is toffee and stewed fruits with a hint of vanilla. Really smooth finish that lingers just the right amount. It's not going to blow your head off at 40% but sometimes that's exactly what you want — just a refined, easy-going single malt.

Gianluca Ferro on New Riff 8 Year Old Rye Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey

8/10

The nose alone is worth it

Soon as I cracked this open I knew it was something special on the nose — caramel, fresh bread, and a waft of dried cherry. Taste follows through pretty well at 50% ABV, though the finish goes a touch bitter if you let it sit too long in the glass. Still, I keep pouring myself another dram so that says something.

Daniel Oyama on Pursuit Spirits Barrel Proof Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

7/10

Decent but needs water

Straight out of the bottle the alcohol dominates a bit too much for my taste. Once you tame it with water though, there's a lovely bourbon underneath — cornbread, vanilla, a touch of dried apricot. The finish is medium with a pleasant spicy kick. It's good, just not sure it justifies the price tag over some easier-drinking options.

Daisy Miller on Dartmoor Whisky Oloroso Sherry Cask English Single Malt Whisky

8/10

English whisky is getting serious

Picked this up out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised. Big sherry character — think stewed plums and toffee — with a clean finish that doesn't overstay. At 46% it's got enough punch without being a bruiser. Would happily buy again.

Annika Svensson on Method and Madness Mezcal Cask / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Single Whisky

8/10

Mezcal meets Irish in the best way

I was skeptical about a mezcal cask finish on Irish whiskey but this genuinely works. You get that smoky agave funk on the nose, then it opens up into creamy vanilla and tropical fruit. At 60% ABV it's a beast neat, but a few drops of water really lets the smoke and sweetness dance together.

Isla McCallister on Blue Spot 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

7/10

Good but pricey for what it is

Blue Spot is solid single pot still — creamy, fruity, with a nice peppery finish. But at nearly £95 for a 7 year old, I keep comparing it to what else I could buy at that price point. I enjoy it neat but I expected a bit more depth for the money.

Petra Novak on Kornog 2016 / 6 Year Old / Peated Refill Pedro Ximenez / The Whisky Exchange French Whisky

8/10

PX and peat done right

Picked this up from TWE on a whim and I'm glad I did. The Pedro Ximenez cask gives it this sticky dark fruit sweetness that fights with the peat smoke in the best way possible. At 60.5% it's a beast neat so I add a few drops of water and it really opens up into dried figs and campfire ash. Proper Breton whisky punching above its weight.

Valentina Ricci on Distillery 291 3 Year Old / Batch 2 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Single Whisky

7/10

Interesting but pricey for the age

Look, £93.50 for a 3-year-old is a tough sell no matter how you slice it. That said, the whisky itself is solid — big cereal notes on the nose, some leather and spice on the palate, and the high proof gives it serious presence. I'd buy a dram at a bar but probably not a whole bottle.

Hannah Brooks on Ardmore 12 Year Old / Seyton / Household Series / Macbeth Act One Highland Whisky

8/10

The peat-curious person's dream

My partner usually hates peated whisky but she actually enjoyed this one. The smoke here is gentle and wrapped in toffee and orchard fruit rather than being an ashtray. I drink it neat and the 52.5% ABV carries the flavours beautifully without burning. Really elegant for an Ardmore.

Victor Osei on Blackwater Starburst Spicebag Rye Rye Irish Whisky

8/10

Spicebag in a glass, no joke

I was sceptical but this is properly good. On the nose you get cinnamon and star anise straight away, then the rye kicks in with black pepper and a bit of dried chilli heat. Tried it with a single ice cube and it opened up beautifully. Blackwater have done something really original here.

Isla McCallister on Aberlour A'Bunadh Sherry Cask Collection Edition I Speyside Whisky

8/10

Sherry bomb done right

This is exactly what I want from an A'Bunadh release. Massive dried fruit and dark chocolate on the nose, then waves of stewed plums and Christmas cake. At 56.2% it's hot neat but a few drops of water opens it up beautifully. Worth the price for a proper sherry cask experience.

Ayako Hirano 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.

Farah Abboud on Corowa 4 Year Old / Batch 2 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Australian Whisky

7/10

Solid but not a daily pour

Nice enough whisky that I enjoyed working through over a couple of weeks. Warm honey and vanilla up front, some gentle oak and pepper toward the end. It's well made for sure, but at this price point I'd reach for my usual Speysides more often. Worth trying if you're curious about what Australia can do though.

Natalie Ford on Crown Royal Single Malt Canadian Single Malt Whisky

7/10

Good but not quite there on value

Solid whisky, no question. Creamy and smooth with some nice orchard fruit and toffee notes. But at £100 I can't help comparing it to Scottish single malts in the same bracket, and it doesn't quite match up for complexity. I'd happily drink it on the rocks at a bar, just wouldn't rush to replace the bottle.

Adaobi Eze on Glen Moray 2014 / 10 Year Old / Decadent Drams Speyside Whisky

8/10

Punchy Speyside with real character

At 57.1% this thing doesn't mess around — big hit of honey and stewed orchard fruit on the nose that really opens up with a few drops of water. Ten years in cask has given it a lovely creamy vanilla backbone. For an independent bottling at under a hundred quid, I think this is solid value.

Alex Ramos on Canadian Club Invitation Series 15 Year Old Sherry Cask Canadian Whisky

8/10

Surprised how much I enjoy this

I'm usually a bourbon drinker but a friend recommended this and I'm glad he did. The sherry cask gives it a richness I wasn't expecting from a Canadian whisky. Plum, toffee, and a nice oakiness on the finish. Really enjoyable neat.

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