Ask a Scot which malt she favours, and chances are the answer will be Glenmorangie. But as well as being the most popular single malt in its home country, the ten year old Original has won many friends & awards further afield, most recently a Gold Best in Class at the International Wines & Spirits Competition 2011.

It’s easy to see why the whisky is so popular – the style is very approachable. The nose is very clean & fruity, offering fresh lemon and green apples, with a background of sweet malt.

The theme of easy drinking continues on the palate, which is sweet, light and fruity, backed up by some creamy vanilla notes. The purity of the spirit is allowed to shine through without any addition of sherry or peaty flavours, and the tall stills for which Glenmorangie is famous have clearly given an elegance to the whisky, elegance which gives it a smooth lasting finish.

A great dram at any time of day, making it a very good choice for the hip flask!

40% 70cl/ about £28, widely available in supermarkets & specialist retailers.