The best whiskey tried and tested

Choosing to spend my time efficiently I've reviewed both the Signature and Reserve whiskies from Cotswolds Distillery, and for once I prefer the cheaper, former single malt.

You'll also have noticed the southern location of this one's origin (potentially the southernmost dram on this list, come to think of it), so it's a great gift for a whisky-know-it-all who only buys bottles from north of Hadrian's Wall.

To do that is to miss out on a brilliant whisky - sweet on the nose with pear and smokey caramel, you don't even need to hold it close to your face to experience the full impact of its vibrant aroma.

That scent profile is mirrored in the taste, which is sweet and fruity at first with a spicy kick, a long burn and a lingering toastiness. For a relatively young malt it is surprisingly complex, nicely balanced and super moreish. The Reserve is similar but more subtle, with a woodier, savoury body. It's still quite spicy though.

Both are brilliant but it's the Signature I like best. In fact, it's my new favourite.

If you love a rye whisky as much as me this bottle from Finnish distiller Kyro is well worth a look - aged in American oak and bourbon barrels, it has a real depth of flavour unlike other ryes I've tried.

The smell is rich and sweet, with a bready note that carries through to the taste. So does that sweetness, which develops into a punchy rye spice, and it's a great combination to have you going back for more.

A great gift (for others or yourself) thanks to its relatively unknown heritage. Buy for rye or bourbon fans (there's something here for either).

Summerton provide a bi-monthly whole bottle whisky subscription service to their customers, promising to deliver unique whiskies that you wouldn't be able to find on the shelves at your local supermarket.

Not only do they offer a huge range of whiskies on demand, they also have a very popular online community full of like-minded whisky lovers, and many subscribers have even made close friends through the tasting events and gatherings as well as the festivals which take place.

I like whiskey all year round but as summer gets into full swing, it starts to get edged out by warming bourbon and firey rye from across the pond.

Like a liquidised baklava in a glass, this bourbon (yes, not a whiskey) has all the same honey sweetness, nutty tones and wholegrain base, and is a proper treat as a result. The nose is full of brown sugar and smoke, while caramel and heat from the rye content dominate the taste.

I would happily finish the bottle off, given half a chance. If your bourbon experience is limited to a Diet Coke in a previous decade then now's the time to rediscover this golden elixir.

A great entry point into what can be quite an uncompromising spririt, this is a delicate rye whiskey that gives you a taste without blowing the roof of your mouth off. Simple on the nose, it has hints of the wood and vanilla that will carry over to the taste, which is equally light and sweet. Containing 51% rye (the minimum content for a rye whiskey) it is very easy going, with a light spice that builds to a dry, charcoal smokiness and sour oak finish. An easy sipper and gateway bottle to punchier blends.

This 15-year-old single malt wastes no time with its 50% ABV and equally strong price, setting it up as a more considered treat for you or the whisky lover in your life.

It's actually Glen Grant's mid-table bottle (between cheaper ten and more expensive 18-year-old versions) with a sweet and malty smell, cut with a light zest and woody base. It tastes nutty and has a balanced sweetness, followed by quite an astringent, drying finish.

A firey heat and full-body can be dialed down with a few drops of water if you want. I like it straight out the bottle though - but I'm a fan of rye whisky and the heat of this one has the same appeal, even though it's not a rye.

This gift set contains two blended malts and two tumblers, so I'm going to review the lot in one go. Gladstone Axe takes its name and inspiration from William Gladstone, a four time Prime Minister who used to wind down by felling trees with an axe. While that sounds great, we'd rather let off steam with either of the whiskies in this gift set, designed to help fans pick which side of the very divisive fence these quite different drinks sit.Probably unwisely I tried the heftier Black Axe first, which is the more interesting of the two. It's quite like in body but heavy in taste - with light smoke, lots of wood, fruit, and a spicy aftertaste that rye fans (like me) will love. It smells nice too, sweet and woody with a kind of pear drops, varnishy vibe.

TheAmerican Oak variety is subtler and lighter, more like a bourbon in its sweetness and with less smoke and spice. It has a shorter, fruitier aftertaste and I reckon would be very approachable for new whisky drinkers. The distiller says both blends are great in cocktails - while that's true for this one, the former stands up really well on its own. Included in the gift set are two substantial tumblers made from thick glass with a solid bottom and ergonomic thumb dent. They're heavy and an irregular shape, as if hewn from wood, which fits the whole axe theme rather well.

Letterbox subscriptions are a great way to give someone a gift that lasts for months, and what could be better than a new whisky arriving every month? Whisky Me will deliver a pouch of delicious spirit, complete with tasting notes and a pairing guide, right through your door.

There's a choice of Traditional Scottish single malts or Discovery (worldwide) plans, and true whisky aficionados can double up and get both delivered.

The pouch delivery system is innovative if a little odd at first, but imparts no flavour on the whisky inside and is recyclable too. Each month you'll get a generous dram (60ml, or just over a double measure) of a specially selected malt.

I've tried the the Glenfarclas15 year old - a very festive, sherry and spice combination that I absolutely loved, and a peaty Glenturret, which was subtly smokey with a satisfyingly long-burn finish. If you like what you receive there's a 10% code against a full bottle in the box too.

If you've tried Naked Grouse before this bottle will be instantly familiar - a blend of malts from Highland Park and Macallan, aged in first-fill sherry casks (hence Naked) and poured into a minimalistic, 100% recyclable bottle. It tastes like it should cost a lot more than £26 and the rich and fruity flavour makes it an ideal introduction to whisky. Toasty, warming and slightly spicy, it's also a great pairing for a winter's night in front of the fireplace. Our only complaint is how easy it is to drink - don't expect a bottle to last very long at all. Actually, buy two to be on the safe side.

A really complex and outside of the box selection for anyone looking to try something a little different, Minor Case is a rye whiskey, which means it's neither a Scottish whisky nor an American bourbon. Traditionally a rye whiskey is spicier than a malt whisky and not as sweet as a bourbon.

This one has been matured in sherry casks though, which have imparted a sweet and fruity taste we did not expect. It's quite light in colour and smells of honey and pine, and to drink it's surprisingly smooth with a firey aftertaste that really lingers. It's a puzzle in a glass that will have you going back time and time again - whether neat or in a Manhattan, Minor Case is a delicious and interesting whiskey with a huge depth of flavour.

This one's pretty unusual, it's all about the wood. Each cask (kasc?) is made from five different kinds of wood, American, French, Hungarian and Portuguese oak, plus chestnut. Each of these woods imparts its influence on this whiskey to make it a riot of different flavours and aromas. Think lots of dark brown sugar on a spicy fruit crumble as the aromas and then taste caramelised tropical fruit, maybe a baked banana, with a spicy, festive pudding finish. Great if you want something totally different and innovative. We really really liked this one!

This whisky is one for people who prefer toasty biscuit flavours and warm fruit aromas. It's a sherried whisky so after first being in ex-bourbon barrels, it has spent three months in specially coopered Oloroso (octave) sherry casks that are smaller than normal. Smaller casks mean bigger flavours and has this whisky got some. Well worth a try especially if you're not a fan of peaty whisky and love bold flavours.

Jura is an island 60 miles off the west coast of Scotland, there are 200 people, one road, one pub, and most importantly one distillery. This is 10-year-old single malt that has spend the majority of its life in American Bourbon Barrels before being finished in Oloroso Sherry Butts. There is the slight aroma of smoke accompanied by sherry and cinnamon in this whisky, with ginger, caramel and more sherry in the taste. If you like a little smoke in your whisky, and a smooth aged sweetness this is the one for you.

Whisky is hugely popular in Japan and Nikka is one of the biggest and legendary brands. There is a lot of history and skill in Japanese whiskey and they are hugely fashionable right now. This really is a 'smooth and delicate' whisky, it doesn't have many of the expected whisky aromas and when you taste it you will know you are drinking whisky but the creamy flavours are soft vanillas and almonds. A good choice as a daily drink, cocktails, or for someone who really likes light whisky and needs a change of scene.

Adnams knows drinks. They have a huge selection of quality beers, and have won top awards for their Copper House Distilled Gin in the past. Their single malt whisky is made from the same local barley they use in their beers, this is a small batch whisky that has been in new French oak barrels for four years. With fresh oak and nutty aromas and a woody but fruity berry taste you know you are drinking something quite new, but don't let that put you off this is a fun young and very easy to drink whisky. If you've ever enjoyed a pint of Adnams ale and want to try something else this won't disappoint.

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, the ubiquitous bourbon. Unlike its popular relative, the Gentlemen Jack isn't just for throwing into a cola with ice. This variation is given a second turn in the charcoal barrel, which works to really mellow and soften the taste. Gentleman Jack still carries the distinct Jack Daniel's flavour, being accessibly woody with vanilla and caramel notes, but with a warm, short and smooth finish.

The Nolstrop family's Norfolk-based distillery was founded in 2005 and has since produced some of the finest English single malts. The English Smokey Single Malt Whisky is a great example of its output and takes on the much-beloved single malt profile, infused with peat, ginger, and vanilla. The finish is described by the distillery as a "smoke bomb", and that's certainly apt. The smoky flavour is powerful and quick to kick, delivering a long finish that is sure to please those looking for strong and unique whisky tastes.

A beautifully mellow and smooth whisky with notes of honey, sweet citrus and vanilla, the Tacnbora Blended Whisky is the first whisky produced by Ad Gefrin, made in a family-owned distillery in the heart of Northumbria. It's made with a mix of malt and grain whiskies, creating a blended whiskey that is "rough and punchy yet somehow equally soft and delicate" according to our tester, Jack Barrell. He also states it offers "a real complexity for the tastebuds", with its layers of sweet and bitter creating a real fire and ice of flavours.