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Compass Box divides opinion — boundary-pushing innovators to some, fancy bottles and marketing to others. Orchard House is their fruit-forward blended malt, and it's exactly what it promises: bright apple, pear and pineapple over golden syrup and buttery pastry, finishing on fruit and vanilla buttercream. A genuinely easy-drinking showcase of Scotch's lighter side — but is bright and breezy enough to win me over?
Lochlea keeps cropping up. This young Ayrshire distillery only started in 2018 but already does things differently — growing its own barley on the estate for control over the whole process. The farm-to-bottle care shows: pear and orange marmalade, an oily palate of golden syrup, buttered soda bread and almonds, and a long, peppery-barley finish. A genuinely impressive dram for such a young name.
Ardbeg commands real respect among Islay devotees, and Uigeadail — named after the loch that feeds the distillery — is often called one of the finest in the core range. It's a powerhouse: earthy, medicinal peat smoke at a warming 54.2%, lifted by a layer of sherry-cask richness, with a long, gloriously smoky finish. Big boots to fill — does it live up to the hype?
Here we are again. Aberlour - my Achilles' heel, as I've said before. The distillery where it all started for me, the one I keep returning to even when I know I should probably explore elsewhere. But this time is different. This time I'm trying something I've been genuinely excited about: the A'bunadh Alba.
Most of this journey has been Scottish single malts, but today we head much further afield — to Canada. Bearface is distilled at an undisclosed location and finished in three oaks. It's an unusual beast: corn and brown sugar, toasted marshmallow and orange bitters, with a fiery, cinnamon-gobstopper finish. A world away from a Speysider — intriguing, if a touch mysterious. Does different mean good?
My first encounter with Arran — the island's first distillery in over a century, built from scratch at Lochranza in 1995. The Barrel Reserve is light and fresh: lemon and sour green apple over a gentle malt base, bright and zippy, with a short finish of malt, vanilla and oak. A refreshing, unpretentious introduction — time to see what the fuss is about.
A first on my Centurion quest — an Irish whiskey. Redbreast Lustau is made at Midleton in Cork and finished in sherry butts. It's a rich, smooth pot-still dram: dark sherried fruit, liquorice and almond up front, plummy and peppery on the palate, with a long finish of peppercorn, allspice and that lingering liquorice. A change of country and style — and a real treat.
Glenfiddich is wrapped up in my childhood — every visitor to Elgin got the Dufftown tour. Project XX blends the cask picks of twenty experts into a single whisky. It's an intriguing mix: apple blossom and orchard fruit on the nose giving way to a woodier, fudgier palate, and a long, spicy finish with a bitter coffee edge. A clever idea — but does it work in the glass?
Ardnamurchan is one of Scotland's young 'challenger' distilleries, with an almost obsessive commitment to transparency — every detail of your dram is a QR code away. Happily, the whisky lives up to the principles: elegant smoke wraps around orchard fruit, creamy vanilla and a sharp peppery kick, with a long, warming finish. Complex and characterful for under £50 — one I genuinely loved.
As we start 2025, the first bottle I’m opening is another first for me - a special edition. All of the bottles that I have tried so far on this journey have been from core ranges from readily available distilleries. However, as I’ve gone down this rabbit hole with Loch Lomond today’s whisky is their 2024 Cooper’s Collection expression, the annual release from Master Blender Michael Henry.
Glen Moray built its name on genuinely good-value whisky, and this no-age-statement release — around £30, if you can find it — is no different. The twist this time is an 'unusual' cask story. Inside, elegant vanilla and caramel meet a distinctive new-oak edge and a real kick of ginger and peppercorn spice that lingers longer than you'd expect. Gimmick, or genuinely interesting?
This week I'm trying something a little different — an English single malt. There are fewer than 50 active whisky distilleries in England, around a third the number in Scotland, but that isn't the whole story: most of them, the Cotswolds included, are less than 10 years old (I could find only two releasing whisky before 2017!). A very young industry indeed.
A little trepidation, a lot of nostalgia: Auchentoshan American Oak was the affordable, ever-available bottle of my early whisky days. Returning to this triple-distilled Lowlander years on, I found a gentle, easy-going dram — soft vanilla and toffee, creamy cereal, a whisper of coconut and citrus — but not a lot to set the pulse racing. A reliable beginner's pour, or has my palate simply moved on?
That striking turquoise bottle is one of the most recognisable on any shelf. A nudge to watch a certain film sent me back to The Classic Laddie — Bruichladdich's unpeated Islay flagship, bottled at a punchy 50%. Inside: orchard fruits, honey and a floral lift of heather. As much a statement of the distillery's transparency and ethos as it is a dram. Worth the hype?
Talisker stands as a legendary figure in the realm of Scottish whisky, its heritage intertwined with the rugged landscapes of the Isle of Skye. Renowned for its distinctive peaty and maritime flavours, Talisker has long captured the hearts of whisky enthusiasts worldwide. The Talisker Skye, is a non-aged statement expression made from a selection of young and old whiskies (3-25 years).
Last week I opened, tasted and posted my review of a bottle of Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold. Having previously shared my initial thoughts on the whisky, I was intrigued by the suggestion to try it straight from the freezer. Skeptical yet curious, I decided to give it a shot, challenging my preconceived notions about the "recommended" way to enjoy this renowned spirit.
One of my favourite distillery adventures was a four-mile walk through driving rain to Dalwhinnie, Scotland's highest distillery. Winter's Gold is built for exactly that kind of weather — honeyed sweetness and golden syrup, soft vanilla and a gentle spice, designed to be served ice-cold from the freezer. A cosy winter warmer, then — but does it deliver enough at room temperature?
Aberlour holds a special place in my heart — it's where my whisky journey began. Casg Annamh, Gaelic for 'rare cask', is a no-age-statement, small-batch expression that draws its richness from a medley of Oloroso sherry casks. The bottle, with its grey wax and embossed name, certainly looks the part — but does the dram inside live up to it?
As a self-confessed non-peat enthusiast, I came to the Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask as much for its striking presentation as its promise. It's an intriguing clash: assertive Tobermory peat smoke meets the red-fruited sweetness of a Rioja finish, the smoke gradually stepping back to let the wine lead, into a long, satisfying finish. Unexpected, characterful — and one of the best-value drams I've found.
Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair (roughly 'stew-rah-dur') is a captivating, unpeated Islay malt whose dark glass gives nothing away. Inside is real maritime character: a briny, coastal nose smoothed by vanilla, caramel and dried fruit, a palate of salted caramel turning creamy and nutty, and a warming, sea-spray finish. Widely available at £30–40, it's distinctive, delicious and genuinely great value — a personal favourite.
Today we're diving into Auchentoshan and their Three Wood expression — a remarkable whisky that takes us on a sensory journey through three distinct cask influences (hence the name). Buckle up as we explore the nuances and craftsmanship behind this triple-matured Lowlander. At around £45–50 it's no bargain, but nor is it a luxury bottling — sitting somewhere in the middle.
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