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Daisy Miller on Cotswolds Golden Wold / Harvest Series No 1 English Single Malt Whisky

8/10

Harvest vibes in a glass

The 'Harvest Series' name makes total sense once you taste it — think fresh barley, ripe pear, and a touch of vanilla. I added a few drops of water to bring it down from the 52.5% and it really bloomed. Lovely stuff, though at nearly a hundred quid I'd save it for special occasions.

Luciano Bianchi on Black Friday 2022 (Caol Ila) 16 Year Old Islay Whisky

7/10

Solid but not a showstopper

I grabbed this on the Black Friday release expecting something special, and it's good but maybe not £96 good. Classic Caol Ila coastal smoke and oily texture, with some dried fruit and vanilla from the aging. I prefer it with a splash of water — neat at 53.2% it's a bit of a brute.

Priya Sharma on Spirit of Hven Alioth / Seven Stars No.5 Swedish Single Malt Whisky

8/10

Surprisingly complex for a Swedish dram

I grabbed this on a whim not knowing much about Swedish whisky and was genuinely impressed. At 45% it's got a nice warmth without being aggressive — lots of orchard fruit and a hint of oak spice on the nose. Neat is the way to go here, maybe with a few drops of water to open it up.

Jorge Castillo on Old Perth 2009 / 15 Year Old / Vintage Collection Blended Whisky

9/10

Punches well above its price

For a 15 year old at cask strength, £95 is genuinely good value these days. Rich sherry-soaked fruit on the nose, then dark chocolate and stewed plums on the palate. I added a few drops of water to tame the 53.6% and it really opened up into something special. One of the better bottles in the Old Perth range for me.

Aria Kim on Chief's Son 5 Year Old / Batch 1 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Single Whisky

6/10

Not quite there yet

I wanted to love this more than I did. The nose is promising with some nice malt and honey but the palate feels a bit young and grainy still. At five years old it probably needs more time in the cask. Might be worth revisiting Chief's Son in a few years when they have older stock.

Jake Morrison on Linkwood 1990 / 33 Year Old / Cask #6965 / Connoisseurs Choice Speyside Whisky

9/10

Silky old Speyside magic

Had this at a tasting last month and I'm still thinking about it. The nose alone is worth sitting with for ten minutes — orange marmalade, floral honey, and old polished wood. On the palate at 49.1% it's surprisingly delicate for its strength, just waves of soft fruit and gentle spice. One of the best aged Speysides I've tried this year.

Ruth Banks on Frey Ranch Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey

8/10

Big bold bourbon for cold nights

Picked this up on a whim and it's become my go-to evening sipper. Rich butterscotch and cinnamon on the nose, with dried fruit and leather on the finish. The 61.5% ABV means it warms you right through — almost too intense neat but a splash of water finds the sweet spot. I'd buy another bottle without hesitation.

Tyler Bennet on Method and Madness Maple Wood Finish / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

9/10

Best M&M release yet

I've tried most of the Method and Madness range and this maple wood finish is head and shoulders above the rest. Neat, you get waves of maple candy, dried fruit, and a lovely spiced oak finish that just lingers. The 57.1% ABV carries all those flavours without burning. Already regretting not grabbing a backup bottle.

Aiko Tanaka on Canadian Club Invitation Series 15 Year Old Sherry Cask Canadian Whisky

6/10

Expected more for the money

At nearly a hundred pounds I was hoping for something special. It's fine — sweet, smooth, inoffensive sherry notes — but the finish disappears fast and there's not much going on beyond caramel and dried fruit. I drink it on the rocks and it holds up okay, but it's not competing with what else is on my shelf at this price.

Yuki Nakamura on Blackwater Irish Whisky Five Grain Planxty Wilcox

6/10

Expected more for the money

I wanted to love this more than I do. The nose is great — all toasted grain and dried fruit — but the palate feels a bit thin compared to what the ABV suggests. At £94 I think there are better options out there. Not bad by any means, just not the value I was hoping for.

Tyler Bennet on Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 1 Speyside Whisky

8/10

Reliable Glenfiddich quality

I've tried a few of the Perpetual Collection and Vat 1 is my favourite so far. Classic Glenfiddich DNA with that signature pear and honey character but the continuous vatting adds a bit of depth. I keep a bottle in rotation and usually enjoy it neat before bed.

Rosa Paredes on Tomintoul 1973 / 50 Year Old / Double Wood Matured / Second Edition Speyside Whisky

8/10

Solid second edition

I preferred the first edition slightly — it had a bit more oomph on the mid-palate — but this is still a phenomenal pour. The double wood maturation brings a nice interplay between vanilla sweetness and darker dried fruit. At 42.9% it drinks easily, almost dangerously so given the price tag. A real collector's piece from Tomintoul.

Astrid Nilsen on Aberfeldy 2014 / 10 Year Old / Bourbon Cask / Single Cask Nation Highland Whisky

8/10

Proper cask strength bruiser

At 59.8% this one doesn't mess around. Neat it's all honey, vanilla, and a hit of baked apple — classic bourbon cask stuff but Aberfeldy's waxy character cuts through nicely. Add a few drops of water and it opens right up. Well worth the £97 if you like your Highland malts with some muscle.

Oscar Delgado on Box American Oak Swedish Single Malt Whisky

8/10

Solid craft whisky, fair price

Been curious about Nordic whiskies for a while and Box delivers. The nose is all honey and baking spices, and the palate follows through with creamy vanilla and a hint of citrus peel. At around £93 it's not cheap, but you're getting cask strength quality here so I think it's reasonable for what it is.

Helena Kosta on Spirit of Hven Dubhe / Seven Stars No.1 Swedish Single Malt Whisky

8/10

My gateway into Scandinavian whisky

A friend poured me this blind and I guessed Highland Scotch, which I think says a lot about the quality. Lovely waxy texture with baked apple and a touch of maritime character. Once he told me it was Swedish I went straight online and ordered my own bottle. No regrets at all.

Penelope Hart on Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve Japanese Blended Malt Whisky

8/10

Lovely wine cask influence

The sherry and wine wood finish really comes through on this one — dried fruits, a bit of plum jam, and a warm spice on the back end. At 46.5% it's got enough punch to hold up neat without being harsh. Ichiro's stuff is consistently interesting and this doesn't disappoint.

Elena Morozova on Fettercairn Vanguard 1st Release Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

8/10

Great nose, solid all-rounder

The nose on this is genuinely lovely — baked apples, a touch of spice, maybe some toffee. Palate follows through nicely though the finish is a bit shorter than I'd like. I drink it neat after dinner and it hits the spot every time.

Ethan Cooper 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.

Olivia Park on Bell's Prince Henry (1984) Blended Scotch Whisky

8/10

Great conversation starter

Bought this more as a collector's piece but couldn't resist cracking it open. There's a rich maltiness with hints of dark chocolate and orange peel that you just don't get from modern blends. Shared it with a few mates over ice and everyone was impressed. The 1984 vintage definitely adds something special to the character.

Priya Sharma on Bowmore 1965 / Vintage Label / Bot.1980s Islay Whisky

7/10

Incredible but hard to justify

I split a bottle with three mates and we savoured it over several sessions neat. The nose is extraordinary — dried flowers, subtle peat, a hint of something like mango. On the palate it's silky and complex. My only gripe is that at nine grand, I kept thinking about how many excellent bottles I could buy instead.

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