Taste five unique whiskies

1 | Collector’s item

Talisker 1978, 40-Year-Old Bodega Series, 50% ABV (Skye, Scotland) Talisker’s oldest buyable single malt has been finished in casks that previously spent 40 years maturing sherry. It’s one big thwack of fruit and spice, with hints of sea and smoke.

£2,750/70cl; thewhiskyexchange.com

2 | Jaunty flavour

The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve,

40% ABV (Speyside, Scotland)

This easy-going single malt is jazzed up by a spell in cognac casks, adding warm cinnamon and raisin flavours that balance beautifully with the smooth and light Glenlivet style.

£48/70cl; waitrose.com

3 | Hipster

Koval Bourbon, 47% ABV (Chicago)

This small-batch, single-barrel, organic bourbon (from Chicago’s first distillery since Prohibition) is soft and sophisticated. A sugary scent calms down on taste, turning into vanilla and caramel, with a tiny tinge of pepper.

£47/50cl; thewhiskyexchange.com

4 | Icy blast

White Walker by Johnnie Walker, 41.7% ABV (Scotland)

Made in anticipation of the final series of Game of Thrones, this limited-edition blends whiskies from Scotland’s highest distilleries and should be kept in the freezer so as to incur a chill.

£35/70cl; amazon.co.uk

5 | Pinpointed

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, 45% ABV (Tennessee)

This premium Jack displays the barrel number and bottling date around the neck. Expect overtones of orange and popcorn flavours (without the syrupiness). Too good to go into cola. £40/70cl; masterofmalt.com

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