Malt Whisky

Classic Islay style - full of seaweed, peat and iodine along with hints of tangy orange.

Founded in 1898, the survival of this distillery can be put down to its use as a mainstay of Teachers' Highland Cream. Sweet and malty on the nose with medicinal aromas, a smoky palate of marzipan and cherries and some floral notes.

Innovative and delicious Organic Malt, this is smooth, rich and full of vanilla spice.

This unusual Islay malt has less peat and iodine than most, but makes up for it with a full, smooth palate.

'Connoisseurs' Choice' bottling of the Islay peat monster, this older whisky is a little softer and the sweet undertone is more pronounced, and perhaps more in balance with the smoky salinity.

Matured in Sherry casks, this whisky from the youngest distillery in Scotland (established in 1996) has toffee and vanilla notes with malty hints of chocolate on the palate.

Pronounced 'Cal Iller', this is a classic malt - an iodinic, medicinal nose with an incredible spice and peat palate and a real woodsmoke character. The finish, however is fresh as a daisy!

'The' Islay malt - smoky and complex. The distillery closed in 1983, so this is one of the last bottles around of this very special dram.

Sadly this distillery is no more, but there's a bit of the best of the lowlands left. Floral, light and honeyed - great after a heavy meal!

Unusual Speysider with butter, toffee and custard, hints of dried banana and a malty finish.

Complex and smokey, you'll need a good hour for a glass of this - just to savour all the aromas and flavours. Heavenly...

The smallest distillery in Scotland, this has a tiny output of smooth, easy drinking malt which deserves much more than a second look.

The original Glenlivet distillery, and a single barrel bottling at that. A classic not to be missed.

A favourite in Italy, this is on the lighter, nuttier side of the Speyside style.

One of only 2 Campbeltown distillieries, and the only one that is independently bottled, this has a real whiff of briny seawater, a full, medium peated body with lots of fruit, malt and spice.

Rare and complex. In 1991, the malt side of the distillery was dismantled, so this is only bottled and sold by independents.

OK, so this isn't a single malt, but it is a blend of malts from Islay, and as such is a brilliant chance to experience the smokey, powerful style of that unique island, without paying the unique prices it usually commands.

Classic Speyside - elegant and characterful. Aged in Sherry Casks.

Extended barrel age gives this unusual weight for a speyside, and a deep tawny colour. A pungent, vanilla winter warmer.

NB We briefly stocked the Macphails 15yr old Mortlach. Due to customer demand we have now gone back to the distillery 'Flora and Fauna' bottling.

The most northerly mainland distillary, this is a big, powerful whisky with a strong, spicy character.

Light and delicate (in marked contrast to its Orkney cousin Highland Park), this has floral aromas with gentle honey and citrus on the palate. A firm Reserve favourite.

Even I don't know what this is. If you can work it out, please tell me!

If you come in to the shop, I promise to tell you what this is. For now, I'll just say that it's not one of the stronger islay styles - so the iodine and seaweed is there, but not too overpowering.

Oh, those pesky kids at Gordon Macphail, they'll never tell me what this really is - why not try it, and see if you can guess.