Scottish Whisky : Scotch

The Silvano?s Collection label is produced by Masam, an independent bottling company run by Maryse Accorsi Samaroli, the wife of the legendary Silvano Samaroli. The Samaroli firm has been run by Antonio Bleve since 2008, however casks from Silvano's private collection have also been bottled under the Singles of Silvano Samaroli banner. These were initially supervised by the man himself, but since his death in 2017, the tradition has been lovingly continued by his wife.

This whisky was distilled in 1967 and aged in single casks #4688 and #5425. It was bottled in 2018 to celebrate Samaroli's 50th anniversary in the whisky industry.

Tomintoul distillery was built in Speyside in 1965 by two whisky brokering companies. It was later acquired by the parent firm of Whyte & Mackay, and folded into their portfolio in 1973. While its main function was the provision of its blends, as with all of its distilleries, Whyte & Mackay also had faith in its appeal as a single malt. It was introduced in the iconic "perfume bottles" at the end of the 1970s. The single malt brand was given more of a focus when the distillery was bought by Angus Dundee in 2000, who also introduced a peated variant called Old Ballantruan in 2005. Bottles from independent labels have also been common over the years.

One of 180 bottles.

The Silvano?s Collection label is produced by Masam, an independent bottling company run by Maryse Accorsi Samaroli, the wife of the legendary Silvano Samaroli. The Samaroli firm has been run by Antonio Bleve since 2008, however casks from Silvano's private collection have also been bottled under the Singles of Silvano Samaroli banner. These were initially supervised by the man himself, but since his death in 2017, the tradition has been lovingly continued by his wife.

This whisky was distilled in 1967 and aged in single casks #4688 and #5425. It was bottled in 2018 to celebrate Samaroli's 50th anniversary in the whisky industry.

Tomintoul distillery was built in Speyside in 1965 by two whisky brokering companies. It was later acquired by the parent firm of Whyte & Mackay, and folded into their portfolio in 1973. While its main function was the provision of its blends, as with all of its distilleries, Whyte & Mackay also had faith in its appeal as a single malt. It was introduced in the iconic "perfume bottles" at the end of the 1970s. The single malt brand was given more of a focus when the distillery was bought by Angus Dundee in 2000, who also introduced a peated variant called Old Ballantruan in 2005. Bottles from independent labels have also been common over the years.

One of 180 bottles.

From Dufftown on the banks of the River Fiddich, The Singleton of Glendullan is, much like House Tully, a product of the Riverlands ? just with a lower-case 'r'. A sweet and fruity dram, this single malt is heaving with vanilla, chocolate and cereal notes, all lifted by a lively spice.

Every drop in this bottle is labour of love. The whisky is aged in both Pedro Ximenez Oloroso seasoned casks and refill ex-bourbon casks, for the honey notes and nutty intensity. The taste is a hive of activity full of soft cooked apples, luscious brown sugar, hints of creamy coffee and roasted nutty notes. This is ambrosial decadence worth savouring.

Singleton of Dufftown 12 Bottling Note - straightforward, nutty and malty single malt from Speyside, the Singleton of Dufftown was released to replace the Singleton of Auchroisk. It's aged in a high proportion of European oak casks.

A bottling that's a perfect introduction for those who are new to single malts, the Singlton of Dufftown Malt Master's Selection was created by The Singleton master of malts Craig Wilson. He hand-selected and blended the whisky before it was maturated in European and American oak casks with three variants; ex-wine, ex-sherry and ex-bourbon.

• Nose: Soft orchard fruit esters develop into boiled apple candies. White pepper begins to crackle through golden syrup and buttered bread, with a little marzipan icing in the backdrop.
• Palate: A slightly oily palate carries more sweet notes of rich toffee, vanilla and a suggestion of pear drops. A green, grassy undertone lingers throughout as a youthful, vibrant spice prickles away.
• Finish: The spice dissipates among more vanilla and a little wood ash.

Golden apple, peaches in cream, honeysuckle, and tangerine abound on the nose of this delicate whisky. The palate is light and airy, with more stone fruits, honey, and hints of walnut covered in milk chocolate. Smooth and sensational.

Smokehead Rum Riot Islay is a single malt whisky from the Islay region of Scotland. It is aged for nine years in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Caribbean rum casks. The whisky has a deep, smoky flavour and aroma, with notes of peat, sea salt, and sweet tropical fruit.

An 'explosive' limited-edition whisky from Smokehead, adding in a punch of sherry character to the anonymous peaty dram. It's matured in Oloroso sherry casks, fusing the big smoke with equally big sweetness and dried fruit notes.

A high-ABV variation on the classic Smokehead Islay single malt, Smokehead High Voltage is described as an "all-out attack" on your senses by its producer. Which, y'know, sounds pretty intense. If you're a fan of heavily-peated whisky, you're in for a treat.

Nose: Burnt biscuits, dried earth and a kick of black pepper.

Palate: Oily barley and intense campfire smoke, with a hint of brown sugar underneath.

Finish: Sea salt, oat cakes and smoked paprika.

Nose: Heavy smoke and peat. Amazing richness. Lemon, fresh ginger, plum jam. Salty and spicy.

Body: Like a cannonball - hits the palate at once with cocoa, peat and some honey sweetness then explodes with peppery spice and more earthy peat. Spreads to all the areas of your mouth with more peat and light sweetness.

Finish: Even more peat, spice, mandarin - then dries up. When you think it?s all over the peat comes back to hit you again.

A smoky, tropical whisky from Smokehead, matured in ex-rum casks, that offers notes of medicinal peat, sweet caramel, burnt pineapple and caramelised bananas.

Sherry and peat go toe to toe with Smokehead Sherry Bomb! It's a well-peated single malt from an undisclosed Islay distillery, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, boasting smoke and dried fruit by the truckload. It's a powerfully flavoursome dram, and unashamedly so. 

Nose: Dark chocolate, seaweed, a hint of medicinal peat smoke, prunes and clove.

Palate: BBQ smoke, stem ginger, sherried peels, sea salt, rum-raisin ice cream.

Finish: Clove, red chilli flake, treacle.

Speyburn 16yo Single Malt is matured for sixteen years exclusively in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and bottled only for Travel Retail; the resulting dram is bursting with notes of zesty fruit and creamy vanilla. Sweet pears and tropical pineapple give way to hints of white chocolate and honey; all wrapped together with a gentle spiciness.