3 From The Whisky Exchange

New Riff 2019 Single Barrel Rye 57.8% - £97 from The Whisky Exchange

I love Rye whiskey and remember buying a bottle of New Riff in my early days of writing about whisky. The nose is as rich as you would expect, with that all-telling aroma of cereal and plasticine that I so love. The palate is a spicy onslaught, just as I want it to be. I want to say that I get black treacle coming from it, laced with vanilla and black tea. 

Ki One Single Malt Korean Whisky 46% - £79.95 from The Whisky Exchange

I was excited to try this, the first whisky from Korea (Namyangju, just outside of Seoul) and have to say that on the nose, I would have guessed Scotch. There were cereal notes, apricot jam and biscuits. The palate had spice, biscotti biscuits, honey, ripe peaches and vanilla. A very worthwhile expression and certainly one to obtain and ask your guests to try. 

Red Spot 1991 31 Years Old exclusive 57.6% from The Whisky Exchange

Irish whisky is such an interesting category, with excellent whiskies being released. This has a deep mahogany colour that hints to how sublime it is. Among the cereal notes on the nose were all fruits such as damsons and red currants, intermingling with a touch of prune syrup. The palate is rich, full and savoury with a healthy dose of spice. It is a joy to sample whisky of this age that still has 57.7% alc. The length is impressive with notes of apricot tart lingering for minutes afterwards.