In our modest drinks cabinet we like to be able to offer guests a selection of single malt Scotch whisky. With the established taste for Islay whiskys such as Caol Ila and Laphroaig, a brief trip to the home of the Old Pulteney distillery in Wick inspired us to get a bottle of their reasonably priced 12 year old malt.

First off, there couldn't be a more diametrically different Scotch to anything from Islay. The south-western island produces an incredibly famous variety of smoky, peaty and even medicinal malts. Old Pulteney, however, is quite different: sweeter and slightly smoother, although not necessarily as easy drinking. This might be because of the sherry barrels used in the maturation process, but like the distillers themselves I'd like to think that the North Sea air has something to do with it.

The distillery sits on a hill above the old fishing port of Wick, and the strong, sweet and rich flavour makes for a brilliant warming dram as soon as you come in from a cold rainy Scottish day. That sweetness can put you off - but it makes for an enjoyable change from the drier and smokier whiskies from other regions of Scotland.