Speyside

Aberlour 10 year old is a great entry-level malt, ideal for beginners, with a fine sherried spiciness. Pound for pound, this is one of the best that Speyside has to offer.

One of the world's best-selling malts, Glenfiddich 12 year old's famous triangular bottle is a fixture in practically every bar on the globe. Light and easy-drinking stuff loved by millions.

A smart packaging job for this distillery-bottled expression of Benromach 10 year old, which has been a big hit since its introduction in late 2009. Well done to G&M for making the standard release strength 43%.

A milestone release from Benriach, this is the first core expression comprising spirit produced predominantly since the 2004 takeover by Billy Walker and his consortium. A classic Speyside whisky.

The Speyside representative of the Classic Malts series is rich and spicy, with a very satisfying complexity and well-sherried backbone.

An 8-year-old bottling of Tamdhu released by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail as part of The MacPhail's Collection series. This would have been produced using the distillery's own maltings, which sadly closed down at the end of the noughties.

A much-loved single malt, Cardhu is an easy-going, charming Speysider. With clean, crisp oak and sweet malt evoking flavours of honeyed flapjacks and home-made caramel squares, this is one for the sweet-toothed among you.

A top-quality packaging update (farewell, stags!) for this Founder's Reserve Glen Garioch which has been bottled at 48% and priced very sensibly. A very welcome return to form for a distillery with enormous potential.

Dalwhinnie 15 year old is a good introduction to the delights of single malt whisky – elegant, smooth and medium-bodied, with a light, fruity palate and a whiff of heather on the finish. Part of Diageo's Classic Malt range.