Just in time for the festive season we have acquired a couple of special single malts that at £60 each are difficult to experience anywhere else!
Both from smaller distilleries in Speyside they offer vastly contrasting tastes of that region.
The first from the Macduff distillery at Banff on the mouth of the River Dornoch is a 12 year old at 55.3% with a light citrus and spice (even white pepper) that leads to a more honeyed pear and peppered malt on the finish.
The very different second classic is from the Dailuaine distillery near the hamlet of Carron and is hidden in a hollow. The name pronounced ("Dal-oo-ayn") means green vale and also a 12 year old but that's where the similarity ends. At 58% it offers an apple fruit and spice on the nose with definite edge of peat before a softer gently smoked salty finish.