Two malts - one single and one vatted...

[jazznut]

Dun Bheagan 8 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch – 43% alcohol by volume

Country: Scotland, Isle of Islay
Colour: Full gold tone with touches of light ochre and sap green.
Nose: Barley grist. Seawater washed wharves. Tar pitch and honeyed floral notes tussle incongrously in the background.
Palate: An initial ripple of sherried sweetness briefly forestalls waves of brine and peat infused malt. Coal fires dry you off towards the finish.
Assessment: Though not a complex heavyweight in the manner of some of its more venerable Islay cousins, this one still seems pretty precocious for an 8-year old.
Summary: A young Caol Ila or, more likely, a young Lagavulin? It matters not. Simply represents a great value in a well-distilled Islay spirit.

Poit Dhubh 12 Bliadhna Mac Na Braiche (Green Label) Vatted Pure Malt Scotch – 43% alcohol by volume

Country: Scotland
Colour: Rich amber gold.
Nose: Gently peat-smoked apricots, plums and kelp macerating in honey. Very composed.
Palate: Silky smooth at the outset. Slowly, inexorably, the more angular Island aspects assert themselves amidst the rounder Highland elements, the juicy sherried fruit and sweet malt momentarily taking on a spicy demeanour before sacrificing themselves to the bonfires. Long and satisfying at the close.
Assessment: A worthy successor to the previous 46%ABV incarnation.
Summary: This one will handily ward off those winter chills.