The Singleton of Glen Ord

Very deep umber; burnished mahogany with crimson lights. Moderate beading.

Medium

Rich, mellow and lightly drying. Sweet promise offers a hint of dark chocolate topped with crystallised violets, adding a scented note. Beneath this lies a subtle dried fruit complex with hints of dried fig and crystallised angelica. In time, the aroma becomes richer and deeper, with suggestions of toasted nuts, espresso coffee, then cappuccino coffee dusted with chocolate and fruity raisin-laced chocolate.

The creamy-smooth texture introduces a taste that starts sweetly winey, grows lightly tart and finally becomes spicy and peppery, drying elegantly. The sweetness is deep and soon more sharply fruity, with hints of fig pudding, juicy berries and melting chocolate ganache. Rich notes of ripe fig reinforce the impression as it becomes lightly peppery, the spiciness embracing a smoothly rounded, sweet-sharp nature that becomes sweeter and less tart if a drop of water is added.

Quite long, spicy and warming in style, with a pinch of pepper and a distinct dark chocolate aftertaste.

Burnt caramel; deep, dark umber; blackened old oak with magenta lights.

Medium

A very mellow nose-feel with sweet promise. There is an immediate impression of light, summery coconut backed by clotted cream, the creamy coconut soon fading to be overlaid by rich hints of prune juice, dark molasses and toffee sweetness as it lingers in the background. Gradually, the aroma edges towards cappuccino coffee with a pinch of powdered milk chocolate. The chocolate note increases as the whisky develops in the glass and is enhanced by a drop of water.

The texture is creamy-smooth and the taste begins lightly sweet; the sweetness is soon edged with bitterness, suggesting the brittle, burnt toffee surface of a crème brûlée. More hints reinforce these first impressions, as it becomes attractively savoury, then sharpens before drying gently. With creamy smoothness to match the brûlée, it is straightforward and smooth to drink with a rounded, sweet- spicy nature, which is enhanced if water is added.

Medium to long, drying gently in a lightly peppery conclusion to leave a hint of dark chocolate in the aftertaste.

Old polished rosewood with ruby lights.

Medium

A mellow nose-feel, lightly nose-drying. The aroma is elusive: very faint top notes suggest a dry chocolate sponge backed by desiccated coconut. Beneath this lie tantalising hints of sweetness in a subtle fruit complex, slightly tart, of the kind found in homemade black cherry jam. A note of Crème Anglaise develops over time, and the chocolate note increases slightly, especially with a drop of water, suggesting fruity nut and raisin chocolate.

Creamy-smooth in texture and immediately sweet, it soon becomes lightly tart and drying, the sweetness now suggesting blackberries and dark red just-ripe plums or black cherries in syrup. More hints of fruit reinforce these initial impressions, while the taste is seasoned with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and crisp black pepper. A drop of water balances the primary tastes, bringing the smoothness and sweetness forward while reducing the tartness.

Quite long, slightly tart and elegantly dry, with another pinch of that pepper and a trace of milk chocolate in the after taste.