Whisky Discovery Guide

Find your new favourite whiskies!

Whisky is a distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash. Different whiskies are made with different grains, often barley, corn, rye or wheat. And different whiskies are aged in different kinds of barrels for differing amounts of time. All these variables mean that no two whiskies are alike. Each has a unique taste, with distinct flavours. So how can you know which brands and types of whisky at the NSLC will appeal to you?

A helping hand in the world of whisky.

The Whisky Discovery Guide was created to introduce you to the different whisky types and flavours you can expect to find at your local NSLC, and to help you find your favourites.

FIND A WHISKY QUIZ

DISCOVER WHISKIES FOR ANY TASTE OR OCCASION

FIND A WHISKY QUIZ
FIND A WHISKY QUIZ

What’s your profile?

You’ll notice we’ve organized our whiskies into five distinct, colour-coded taste profiles, based on each whisky’s region of origin, flavours and mixology suggestions. These Taste Profiles have been designed to provide a sense of the style of the whisky.

Light & Fresh

Light & Fresh

Moderate barrel aged whiskies with modest alcohol levels. Typically made from grains, or malt and grain spirits.

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Medium & Spicy

Medium & Spicy

Whiskies with distinct, spiced flavours, including peppery notes, oak or vanilla.

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Medium & Fruity

Medium & Fruity

Whiskies aged in fruit casks, such as Sherry or Port.

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Robust & Complex

Robust & Complex

Full bodied whiskies that are rich in aroma and flavour. Many are aged for extended periods in oak.

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Robust & Smoky

Robust & Smoky

Whiskies with notable peated malt content. This includes whiskies from Scotland’s Islay region with smoky notes.

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Whisky-Light&Fresh Shelf Talker

Here's the info you'll find on the shelf

  1. ① Taste Profile

    There are five whisky taste profiles, from Light & Fresh for young spirits, all the way up to Robust & Smoky for the richest of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

  2. ② Flavours

    There are many contributing factors influencing the flavours of your favourite whisky which include, but are not limited to: where it was made, the grain used to make it, as well as the type of oak it was aged in and the amount of time spent resting in those barrels.

  3. ③ Mixology

    The whisky tasting experience can sometimes be enhanced by adding a mix or transforming the whisky into a cocktail. Some whiskies benefit from the addition of mixes, while others are best enjoyed on their own.

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