EXCEPTIONAL ALTERNATIVES

Discover rewarding sips that intrigue the palate and engage the mind, from a Japanese single grain to cask-strength Scotch romance.

BENROMACH 10 YEAR OLD

100º PROOF

This is the dark-fruit, toasty version of the Speyside distillery’s10 Year Old sibling. Drinkers who want a creamy, buttery texture with a delicate smoky edge and bonfire embers will enjoy this undiluted offering. DOUGLAS LAING ROCK OYSTER

Rock Oyster is a small-batch blended whisky, vatted with fine maritime malts including those distilled on Islay, Jura, Arran and Orkney. It has soft, sweet peat along with smokiness, yet is fresh and balanced with a moreish finish. THE CHITA

SINGLE GRAIN Smoothness, harmony and balance, aside, The Chita Single Grain also offers a special umami and complexity from being aged in wine, Spanish oak and American white oak casks. Hints of crisp mint and spice with a subtle bittersweet finish make for an addictive sip. THE SINGLETON OF GLEN ORD 18 YEAR OLD

Think ginger biscuits and silky chocolatecovered cherries from this medium-bodied Highlander. Made by the oldest Singleton distillery, its fruity style is somewhere between the delicate Speyside and smoky Islay. THE BALVENIE DOUBLEWOOD 12 YEAR OLD

With layered, delicate aromas such as vanilla, dried fruit, honey, apple and more, this is easy to drink for a beginner, but also a highly rewarding dram for someone who is more experienced.