The Century of Malts Blended Scotch Whisky
Blended - Scotland - 40.00% 4 Gentle, smooth and delicately balanced, but with some underlying muscle. Complex and sophisticated. More of a James Bond than a Braveheart.

Drambuie Black Ribbon, 15 Years Old
- Scotland - 40.00% 5 Substantially darker, bigger, fruitier, drier, firmer, more structured and less syrupy than the Drambuie without the ribbon.

The Balvenie PortWood 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Bring on the petits-fours.

Buffalo Trace American Straight Bourbon
Bourbon - U.S.A. - 45.00% 8 Some very interesting flavours, but lacks roundness and length.

Adelphi Slaney Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Single Malt - Ireland - 0.00% 7 Pleasant, soothing, sociable.

Aberlour 15 Years Old, Sherry Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Complex and sophisticated.

The Balvenie 21 Years Old PortWood
Single Malt - Scotland - 47.60% 9 The full, honeyed, richness of the malt combines beautifully with what seems to be a generous kiss of port.

Glenturret 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 After dinner.

The Dalmore 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Said to be married in sherry butts. In this instance, marriage certainly works.

Famous Grouse Gold Reserve
Blended - Scotland - 43.00% 8 A superb job of blending. When I tasted this whisky on its own, I thought it was good, but not especially distinctive. Tasted among its competitors, it was one of the standouts.

Chieftain's Choice Glencadam 1985, 16 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Graceful and characterful. To be sipped on a midsummer starlit night. A true dancing dram.

Lombard Anchor Bay
Blended Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 A satisfying, nourishing, clean malt. But where is the bay?

Speyburn 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.50% 8 Full of flavour and interest, but the sherry and oak verge on being overwhelming.

Linkwood 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 Satisfies nose and palate equally. To be opened and enjoyed at Christmas.

Adelphi Clynelish 1989, 13 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.70% 8 Not the most peaty Clynelish I have tasted, but a lovely, distinctive whisky.

Cadenhead's Glenturret 1986, 15 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.00% 7 A charming whisky, and a reminder that Glenturret is a place, not an experience.

The Glenrothes 1989
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 8 A whisky for a reverie. Daydream of childhood and the local sweet-shop.

Rare Old Highland Park 1970
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 8 Disappointing. Where is the richness, and especially the island character?

Ardbeg 1976, Single Cask Committee bottling
Single Malt - Scotland - 51.00% 8 A 'no bones about it' Islay whisky, and a fine example of Ardbeg.

Hibiki 505 17 Years Old, Non chill filtered
Blended - Japan - 50.50% 8 Virile. Rich display of flavours. If I was to climb up the Fujiyama, I'd take a flask with me.

Tomatin 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 More delicate than I remember.

Tobermory 10 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 Classic bourbon cask profile. Perfumy like Eau de cologne. Well balanced. Nuttier with water but it takes the freshness off.

Scott's Selection Ardmore
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.10% 7 Not a model of subtlety but a well-knitted character, in the light heavyweight category.

Connoisseur's Choice BenRiach 1981
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00% 7 The bourbon cask influence is obvious. A refreshing dram but simplistic. Water ruins it.

Berry's Own Selection Glencadam 1991
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00% 7 A dram for a sweet tooth. Nearly sugary. Unbalanced.