For peat lovers, Ardbeg 10 Year Old is probably the highest-quality ‘entry-level’ single malt on the market, and the distillery many Islay connoisseurs would choose as their favourite. A whirlwind of peat and complex malty flavours.

Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Best Single Malt Scotch of the Year, 10 Years ...

Scotland, Islay- Produced in small batches to be released each year, this second bottling of exceptionally rare 19 year old draws its inspiration from Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach, known locally as the Singing Sands. Matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks.

Ripe golden barley in color. Arran 10-Year-Old has the initial rush of vanilla sweetness on the nose gives way to the fruits of slow distillation – kiwi, banana, cantaloupe melon – with just a dusting of cocoa powder. It is undoubtedly complex and yet the aromas are in complete harmony ...

Distilled at The Auchentoshan distillery June 1999. Bottled February 2014. Aged 14 Years Old @ 56.1%. UN-chill filtered, no artificial coloring. The nose offers rich lemon grassy notes with traces of liquor ice. The palate has buttery style and finishes of caramel.

Triple distilled and matured in American bourbon oak for over eighteen years. The result: a refreshing Lowland single malt whisky with the added infusion of ripe citrus and green tea, the warmth of toasted almonds and the signature smooth, delicate, Auchentoshan taste.

Auchentoshan Classic has been fashioned in a similar manner, producing a clean and fruity entry level style malt, reflective of triple distillation methods. Matured exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels.

Auchentoshan Heartwood Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the perfect balance of rich whisky aged in Oloroso sherry casks with a nuttiness from bourbon cask maturation.

Auchentoshan is located in the midst of a surprisingly dense residential area which makes it a little difficult to find on first visit. Boasting a very attractive visitors center, this distillery produces a very fruity style of whisky.

A younger, more intensely smoky version of Auld Reekie, The Big Smoke is an Islay malt whisky from Duncan Taylor

The Bowmore Darkest has flourished since it gained a 15 year-old age statement. The sweet sherry notes take precedence over the peat here.

Released in a trio of travel retail bottlings, Bowmore’s White Sands 17 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky gets matured in ex-bourbon casks, bringing creamy vanilla and thick treacle notes to the table. This pairs wonderfully with the coastal wafts and peat smoke which people love Bowmore whisky for.

A popular expression in Bowmore’s ongoing range, this replaced the 17-year-old, which was phased out a few years ago. Fresh, with notes of salty kippers and coal smoke.

A 25 year old from the Bowmore distillery aged in American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. The sherry influence combines wonderfully with the coastal, smoky distillery style to create a sublime aged single malt.

Tasting note:

Nose: Dark fruits and coastal smokiness. Slightly herbal.

Palate: Characteristic peat smoke, cocoa and dry, creamy nuttiness.

Finish: Gentle smoke, oak, ...

Looking out the window of Bowmore Distillery, the Black Rock of Islay rises majestically out of Loch Indaal. Matured predominately in ex-Spanish sherry casks, it is a delicious balance of peat smoke, treacle toffee and orange from first sip to last.

Elsewhere up to $70.99

A young, rather gentle Bowmore. Whilst not massively complex or full-bodied, Legend is still a great value for money malt.

Bowmore No.1 is producing using single malt Scotch whisky drawn exclusively from first-fill bourbon casks, imparting a creamy sweetness which blends well with the robust Islay smoke that Bowmore is known for.

Bowmore Small Batch is an elegant Islay single malt, when gets matured in both first-fill and second-fill bourbon barrels. A great introduction to Bowmore’s lovely smoky flavour profile – the Small Batch is refined, light and well balanced with plenty of honey, coconut and vanilla notes.

This dram has been designed by Jim McEwan to showcase the classic, floral and elegant Bruichladdich style; matured purely in American oak Bourbon casks. A Kate Moss rather than a Madonna, an Audrey Hepburn rather than a Marylin Monroe, a natural elegance that is beyond fad and fashion – truly ...

Peat fans, hold on to your hats, as here comes another Octomore from the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay! The Octomore 07.1 is a 5 year old single malt Scotch whisky, which has been peated to 208 PPM and bottled at 59.5% ABV. The Octomore expressions are always a treat and ...

Master distiller Jim McEwan specially chose the casks that create the Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, which highlight the elegance within this heavily peated single malt. Made with 100% Scottish barley and matured in the village of Port Charlotte.

Caol Ila is considered to be one of the lighter of the Islays. Medium-bodied with a rounded flavour. Pale in colour with a greenish tinge. This malt has a peaty nose, with distinct floral notes. It is described as tasting slightly of seaweed/iodine, lightly medicinal, smoky, salty, sweet with a ...

A wonderfully balanced expression from the core Caol Ila range, this 18 year old is malty and thick with notes of Caol Ila smoke and phenols, a lovely Islay single malt without extreme levels of peat.

Introduced in 2010, after cask strength versions in 2004 and 2005, this is the first officially-bottled Caol Ila 25yo to be bottled at 43%. It’s nice to see growing recognition for this excellent distillery, and this is a very welcome addition to the official range, with a rich, gentle mouthfeel ...

Each expression of Caol Ila (pronounced ‘Cull Ee-la’) reflects a special quality of the light at this remote Islay distillery. Together they picture a day in its secret cove on the Sound of Islay. Brilliant, clean and finely balanced, this special Caol Ila Distillers Edition has all the clarity of ...

Really smoky and iodine rich. This has to be one of Scotland’s most characterful drams. Laphroaig are known for their medicinal malts, and the classic 10 year old is no exception.

Elsewhere $79.99

Laphroaig 10yo is a full-bodied, smoky gem, with a residual sweetness and a hint of salt amid the seaweedy, peaty characters before a long warming finish. A classic dram.

An Cuan Mor (Gaelic for ‘big ocean’) is a travel retail bottling of Laphroaig. Aged in first-fill American white oak bourbon barrels, it is finished in European oak. Rich and spicy with a maritime character.

Laphroaig describe the new whisky which will be bottled at 40% ABV as having aromas of peat smoke with stewed fruit and warm, toasted vanilla. Four Oak provides a taste of buttercream and a salted liquorice and peaty finish.