As the new year dawns, we take a look at recent and current auctions in the world of whisky. Charity auctions are major feature of this month's auction round-up, with casks and bottles sold in aid of ...

The year 1972 saw the British public still getting to grips with decimal currency, introduced the previous February. In Scotland Whisky Galore author Sir Compton Mackenzie died, while Orcadian George ...

Standing at the quayside of the former Queen’s Dock on the River Clyde, visitors to Scotland’s largest city are surrounded by the modern face of Glasgow. Further upstream, the multicoloured ...

Initially there’s an almost lingering liquorice sweetness that catches the back of my nose before baked oranges, sticky maple syrup, and a bit of fleshy peach.

Butterscotch, tablet, and some pastéis de nata. There’s a bit of nutmeg, a touch of lemon peel and cedar, before a slightly fusty note comes through — faint lavender. It’s very concentrated on the ...

Beautiful delicacy — wafts from the glass in a hypnotic way. Lots of green apples, vanilla bean, and fig leaf, alongside just a touch of aniseed. Very sweet.

Pillowy soft nose — a lot of depth without shouting alcohol. Melting brown sugar that gives way to a fruitiness of baked strawberries, before almost a cotton candy note. Oranges.

That warm earth note comes through more strongly on the palate but it is still ever so gentle, like last night’s dampened bonfire. A bit of caramelised fruit sits alongside candied oranges.

Nice bright nose, with some citrus zest and vanilla, a little bit of crayon. Initially quite toasty with a touch of smoke, some lemon cake, golden syrup, and a bit of spice from wood tannin.

There’s a gentle Islay peatiness here alongside warm stewed apples and pears, plus bergamot and fresh-cut grass. Later on, date syrup, Maltesers, and mocha.

Initially almost smells of the seaside — there’s a fresh air aroma, alongside a bit of sea salt and fairground sweet stalls. Toffee-covered apples, campfire, and pain au raisin follows.

A complex nose that speaks of age — dark fruits covered in chocolate, a bit of a heady warehouse scent (dirt, maturing casks), stewed pears, and almonds. Luscious.