Whiskies to Develop Your Taste
Simply Whisky sells a specially selected (and often changing) range of whiskies that our experience tells us suit those who wish to develop their love and taste of whisky. Don't hold back.
If you fancy a wee nip o any o these drams you can buy them via our partner website that will sell, package and ship direct to you. Just click the Buy Now button as you scroll through the selection and you will be on your way to a tasty time. Remember, clicking through will not cost you any more, but it will throw a few pennies in the Simply Whisky jar so that we can keep our website up to date for you!
To return to the full list of Simply Whisky's Top 30 Drams click here.

Whiskies to Develop Your Taste - To find out more please click on a bottle below.

An intense peatiness so unique to Laphroaig comes bursting through. A really terrific whisky
Dae ye ken?
The smaller the barrel used, the stronger the oak influence, due to the hugely increased oak surface contact compared to the small amount of whisky
Cask
Coopers at Laphroaig made these oak quarter casks
Nose
Ripe, new-make barley sweetness followed by a combination of a barbecue, flower, sooty chimney, apple slice and a piece of Gouda
Taste
Smoky and accented with hints of coconut and banana aromas
Finish
Full bodied, deep, complex and smoky
Distillery Info
Laphroaig is on Islay, a wee Scottish island off the West coast of Scotland inhabited by only 3200 people. The Johnston brothers first started (illictly) distilling Laphroaig whisky over 200 years ago
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Perfectly balanced, naturally rich and smooth is the wording on the label; the ideal summary of this striking malt
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‘Balvenie’ means ‘Village of Monks’ in Scots gaelic
Cask
American oak ex-bourbon followed by a marriage in Portuguese port pipes which have previously held fine port wines
Nose
Perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a brazil nutty dryness. A distinct mustiness in the background verifies the age
Taste
Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes. Deep and complex
Finish
Long, gentle and nutty
Distillery Info
The distillery was built in 1892 around a haunted mansion. Today the distillery is still independent and family owned by William Grant and Sons
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The best bourbon on the market. Boom! A stunner!
Dae ye ken?
George T. Stagg was born December 19, 1835 in Garrard County, Kentucky, later making ade quite a reputation for himself as one of America’s finest whiskey salesman. He had the good fortune to work with none other than E. H. Taylor, one of Kentucky’s original bourbon aristocrats
Cask
New American oak
Nose
Spicy rye notes with maple syrup, pepper and coffee
Taste
Maple oak spice with Chai tea lattes, espresso beans and walnut
Finish
Long, sweet and very spicy. My gosh!
Distillery Info
George T. Stagg is a limited-production bourbon whiskey manufactured by the Sazerac Company and distributed by (owner) Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of their 'Antique Collection'
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Sweet, mild, mellow and perfect for starting an evening, or a day for that matter
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Grain whiskey is made primarily from corn or maize. This is a special edition whiskey limited to only 4000 bottles, be quick!
Cask
American oak ex-bourbon barrels for 18 glorious years
Nose
Soft sweet corn with a burst of zesty orange and citrus lemon
Taste
Sweet butterscotch toffee with rich creamy vanilla
Finish
Lingering sweetness giving way to smooth clean oak
Distillery Info
Cooley, the makers of Greenore, are Ireland's only independent distillery. Set up in 1987 they had a vision to restore some of the ancient brands of Irish whiskey to their former glory. Let the good work continue...
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Hibiki means 'harmony' in Japanese and after tasting this whisky you will know why...
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Suntory's blenders use Mizunara Japanese oak barrels that once contained Umeshu - a traditional Japanese plum liqueur – to endow this whisky with a singular bouquet of fruit aromas and a silky texture
Cask
Ex-Umeshu Mizunara Japanese oak
Nose
Citrus leaf, cocoa, cooked apricot, ripe banana, and hazelnut giving a crunch
Taste
Toffee sweetness stretches along the palate. Very clean and clear. Sweet with sultana and cherry
Finish
Long and silky
Distillery Info
This fantastic Japanese blend is made with aged malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's three prized distilleries - Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita
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A powerful bear-hug of a whisky with a sweet sherry kiss on the cheek
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Demand forced The Macallan to build a new high tech warehouse to cope with their expansion. It is the largest single-roofed whisky warehouse in Europe with a handling capacity for 60,000 casks yet it has traditional bare earth floors with damp and mouldy conditions, ideal for maturing whisky
Cask
Exclusively Matured in Selected Ex-Sherry Oak Casks from Jerez, Spain
Nose
Dried fruits with chocolate, orange, vanilla and wood spice
Taste
Rich and smooth, with fruit cake, vanilla, and a hint of wood smoke
Finish
Full and lingering with dried fruits, cherries and spice
Distillery Info
The Macallan distillery was legally licensed in 1824
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Described by Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte & Mackay, as “a gift from the heavens”
Dae ye ken?
In January 2006 The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust found several cases of spirits lodged in the ice under Shackleton’s hut. Three contained Chas Mackinlay & Co’s whisky
Cask
Mackinlay's is a vatting of malt whiskies including Dalmore, Glen Mhor and other malts (mostly Speyside), all ranging from 8 to 30 years of age
Nose
Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed
apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse the senses
Taste
Gentle bonfire smoke slowly gives way to spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan nuts followed by an array of creme brulee, orange rind and freshly baked bread
Finish
Oranges, spices and smoke
Distillery Info
The historic Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt brand is owned by Whyte & Mackay, who acquired it as part of Invergordon Distillers in 1995
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2012 World Whisky of the Year (according to Whisky magazine). What do you think?
Dae ye ken?
Sadly the herring industry is no longer part of the daily life in Wick, but Pulteney Distillery continues to operate, distilling one of the finest Highland Malts available
Cask
Mix of fino sherry and refill bourbon casks
Nose
Apple, butterscotch and flapjacks
Taste
Green apple, cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of dry wood plus the trademark Old Pulteney saltiness
Finish
Decent length, coconut, and again some salt
Distillery Info
Established in 1826, the Pulteney distillery is found in the heart of 'Pulteneytown', the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s herring boom in the 19th century
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Dae ye ken?
Suntory was one of the first Asian companies to specifically employ American celebrities to market their product e.g. Bill Murray and Sammy Davis Junior
Cask
Aaged in three different kinds of oak: American, Spanish and Japanese
Nose
Rich sherry and raisins, follwed by maraschino cherries and finally coffee cream chocolate
Taste
Full bodied with lots of orange juice, fruit syrup and jam
Finish
Long and dry
Distillery Info
Japan has had a whisky industry since 1923. The Yamazaki distillery is built on a site which includes a Shinto shrine and the site of the first Japanese tea house
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Ardbeg call it the 'path to peaty maturity', it's been a great trip. Still a punch in the chops!
Dae ye ken?
Founded by the MacDougall family in 1815. Seizure of a large quantify of illicit whisky by Excise watchmen led to the start of a legitimate operation.
Cask
American oak bourbon barrels
Nose
Lemon sherbet, tinned fruit salad, toasted vanilla, cinnamon balls, green apples and wood smoke
Taste
A big coal hit on the palate, warming, smouldering, intense and complex
Finish
Smokey peat oils, vanilla cream, dusty oak floorboards, and chewy liquorice whirls
Distillery Info
Peat plays an important part in Ardbeg's flavour and in this part of the island of Islay it is particularly good, being free of sulphur and other undesirable minerals. Ardbeg single malt hasn’t always been widely available and at one point was only sold in a couple of local hotels
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