Flavour Profiles

Whisky is a versatile, complex spirit that can deliver a range of flavours evoking different responses from member to member. Twelve unique flavour profiles were developed by the Tasting Panel in 2012 to help group whiskies into easily identifiable categories. Think of them as locations on a flavour map, and prepare to take a journey through our ever-changing selection of single cask, single malt whiskies. There are also six single cask spirit categories that denote non-single cask Scotch bottlings.

In 2025, the Panel evolved the original twelve profiles into eight - each with a new name, colour and character and over time you'll see more of these new profiles as we slowly retire the original twelve "legacy" profiles.

• Fragrant & floral
• Bold & peaty
• Coastal & maritime
• Sweet & zesty
• Smoky & fruity
• Toasted oak & vanilla
• Ripe fruits & honey
• Dried fruits & spices

Legacy Profiles

• Young & spritely
• Sweet, fruity & mellow
• Spicy & sweet
• Spicy & dry
• Deep, rich & dried fruits
• Old & dignified
• Light & delicate
• Juicy, oak & vanilla
• Oily & coastal
• Lightly peated
• Peated
• Heavily peated