Speyside proffers the lighter, sweeter drams. Body is brought with age and some of the heavily sherried, well-aged Speyside single malts are particularly full. The lighter, younger whiskies can be rather delightful with superb balance. The sweetness is often honeyed and delicate and peat is rarely used, nor are the drams particularly salty. Speyside whiskies are rarely finished in exotic wood.
Bit of whizz in the kitchen and fancy pairing food with whisky? Then this is just the thing for you - A Classic Malts & Food gift set, which features a bottle of Knockando's excellent 1994 vintage 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky, four branded tasting glasses and a recipe book, which ought to inspire some fantastic pairings.
$92.55
Released as part of the Glenfarclas Family Cask range, this is a 1999 vintage single malt Scotch whisky which was left to mature in cask #6321, a Sherry butt. This Sherry butt was opened in July 2014 and the whisky drawn from it filled 608 bottles, presented at 59.5% ABV.
$312.31
Single malts from Islay tend to be the most pungent and peaty of all Scotch whiskies. This is particularly true to the south of the isle, where peat smoke is rife, as is tar and salinity. Further north there is not quite the peaty intensity; instead there is often plenty of fruit and refinement. There is always a good degree of balance, wherever one is on the isle.
A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The 16 year old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery.
$82.80
A travel retail release of Bruichladdich organic single malt Scotch whisky, made with barley sourced from Mid Coul Farm, Mains of Tullibardine Farm and Coulmore farm. It's an unpeted expression, light and sweet with toffee, citrus, almond and subtle touches of exotic fruit.
$99.21
The Islands is a diverse region, though the single malts are usually rather rich. Smoke is a recurring theme, as is balance and richness. There is often a good peat, salinity and counteracting cereal sweetness. There are no hard and fast rules for the Islands, for the terroir and production methods differ greatly between distilleries.
A Duncan Taylor Tantalus bottling of 45 year old Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky, distilled all the way back in 1968. Yes, we quite agree - that does sound pretty remarkable indeed. Duncan Taylor's Tantalus range is reserved for rare, old whiskies (much like this well-aged Orcadian), and are presented in hand-blown glass decanters and wooden Tantalus made from the casks which aged the whiskies to house said glass decanter.
$3127.78
Talisker Skye was introduced in early 2015, named after the beautiful island on which the distillery resides. This expression brings with it a well-rounded flavour profile packed with fresh citrus, sweet smoke, peppery spice and traditional Talisker maritime notes. It's matured in a combination of refill and toasted American oak casks, with a slightly higher proportion of toasted casks. Would make a great first impression for those unfamiliar with the classic Talisker flavour profile, and there's a lot to love here for diehard Talisker fans too.
$60.13
The Highlands is a broad appellation, though the whiskies tend to be full in body. The Highlands is divided into four regions; Northern Highland whiskies are full, cereal sweet and rich; Southern Highland whiskies are slightly lighter with dryness and fruit; Eastern Highland whiskies are full, dry and very fruity; Western Highland whiskies are full and pungent with plenty of peat and smoke.
The 1999 vintage Distillers Edition from the Oban distillery, bottled in 2014 but not before being finished in Montilla Fino casks. This finishing period imparts bountiful notes of cooked fruit and wine-like qualities, which create fantastic, dynamic flavour profile paired with the classic 'coastal-yet-sweet' Oban notes.
$117.35
34 year old single malt Scotch whisky, distilled by Glen Mhor in 1975, around 8 years before the distillery was closed (and eventually demolished). This well-matured single malt Scotch whisky comes presented as part of the Duncan Taylor Tantalus range, which is reserved for long-aged and rather special whiskies (such as this one). It comes in a hand-blown decanter, housed in a wooden tantalus case.
$1594.74
Whiskies from the Lowlands tend to be light and gentle. The single malts are usually quite dry. Peat is very rarely used. The single malts are soft and delicate and triple distillation is practiced, indeed it is for this that the region is known. There is very little salinity and plenty of floral notes and balanced fruit.
Another well-aged single grain Scotch whisky joins Douglas Laing's illustrious Xtra Old Particular range, this one from the Strathclyde distillery. It was distilled in October 1974 and was left to mature in a single refill hogshead for 40 years, until it was bottled in December 2014 with no chill-filtration or additional colours. 150 bottles were produced.
$396.95
This is an independently bottled 15 year old single malt from the Auchentoshan distillery, presented as part of the Pearls of Scotland range. It was distilled in December 1998 and left to mature in a single cask until October 2014, when it was bottled with an outturn of 283 bottles.
$128.60
Campbeltown single malts are rather dry and gentle smoky. The proximity to the coast proffers a salty character. One can imagine a cross between the Western Highlands and the Lowlands, with a little salinity. There are now just three whisky distilleries in Campbeltown.
Another superb batch of 12 year old Springbank single malt Scotch whisky, presented at cask strength. This release, unveiled in early 2015, was drawn from a combination of Sherry and bourbon casks and clocks in at a hearty 53.2% ABV. Sweet with crumbly vanilla toffee and mint chocolate, it soon develops vibrant grassy notes and touches of peat on the mid palate, which last through to the finish.
$74.09
Independently bottled Springbank single malt! Awesome! This tasty Campbeltown whisky was distilled in May 1993 and matured in refill hogshead #10527 for 21 years, until it was bottled in October 2014. It was bottled for the Old Particular range by Douglas Laing with an outturn of 223 bottles.
$378.24
Blended whisky is Scotland’s best-selling spirit. A Scotch blend is made up of both malt and grain whisky. The grain whisky is easy to produce, it being distilled in a column still. It is a little more neutral in taste, thus the malt whisky is added for flavour and body. Currently, blended whisky accounts for 90% of Scotland’s whisky production.
It's here, the 2014 Whisky Advent Calendar! Look at it. Regard it. What is surely the greatest advent calendar known to humankind is back for a third Christmas countdown, and there's still no better way to get into the festive spirit!
Behind each of the 24 windows lies a different 3cl Drinks By The Dram sample of delicious whisky, so this year be sure to count down to Christmas in style (again). And if you like this, why not take a look at
The Premium Whisky Advent Calendar!
SPOILER ALERT! You can view the contents below if you
really want to know by selecting 'Read more' - although we've still placed them in a random order below so the surprise won't be completely ruined!
Read more 
$231.50
Is this the
ultimate advent calendar? We certainly think so. For The Premium Whisky Advent Calendar from Drinks by The Dram contains 24 wax sealed sample drams of top quality whiskies behind its glorious windows!
This really is a thing of beauty, a step up from the already incredible
Whisky Advent Calendar, this is the way to count down to Christmas in consummate style. Expect all manner of treats from top distilleries in Scotland and around the world!
SPOILER ALERT! You can view the contents below if you
really want to know by selecting 'Read more' - although we've still placed them in a random order below so the surprise won't be completely ruined!
Read more
$432.20