Here are a selection of six top brands of single malt (unblended whiskeys):

1. Laphroaig. 10 year old malt.

   The Laphroaig distillery is situated on the Scottish Island of Islay using the smoky, peaty spring water found on the island. The bottle bears the Prince of Wales Crest as it one of the Prince Charles' favourite tipples.

2. Talkisker. 18 year old, single island malt.

   Distilled on the western Scottish Island of Skye, this single malt has a very strong aroma and a distinct flavour which comes from the spring water that permeates through the rocks next door to the distillery. This is a full bodied, smooth whiskey with a distinct flavor.

3. Blair Athol. 12 year old single malt.

   This single malt whiskey is distilled in the Scottish Highlands. It is dark in color and has a mellow but distinctive aroma. There is clearly a touch of spice and lemon peel in the after taste.

4. Drumguish. 5 year old single malt.

   Speyside distillery takes it's water from the river Tromie. This distillery has some of the smallest commercial stills in Scotland. The aroma of this single malt is fresh and clean with a very slight menthol touch. The pale spirit has a reputation for being the "best whiskey in the world."

5. Glenfarclas. Single malt.

   This rich and powerful spirit is distilled in Speyside. Glenfarclas comes in a range of ages: 10, 12 and 17 year old single malt and the strength of the spirit varies accordingly. The 17 year old version is 43% proof. It also comes in a powerful 60% cask strength. The overall flavor of this spirit is malty, smoky and slightly dry.

6. Braeval. Single malt.

   The Braeval distillery in Banffshire, Scotland is only 25 years old. The aroma of this whiskey which is often used to make blends, is malty with a touch of dried grass. It tastes spicy and slightly sweet with a hint of vanilla and is best enjoyed neat.

Baby Mice Wine from China: This is a rice wine with baby mice and is said to be good for asthma but you must swallow a mouse with the drink to get the full effect.

Seagull Wine which is made by the Eskimoes: This is simply made by putting a dead seagull in water, sealing it in a bottle and leaving it in the sun to ferment. Tasty!

Cynar from Italy: This is a liquer made from artichokes. It has been described as being a vile smelling and worse tasting mix of burned artichokes and alcohol. It is brown like the water you get when you soak a burned vegetable pan in water and it smells even worse. Have you ever boiled a pan of potatoes dry? Well, this smells three times as bad. However, someone out there must like it.

Urine: That's right, plain and simple pee from cows. This is a popular drink among the native people in Kenya. Somehow I don't see this becoming commercially viable in Europe and US.

Vine Snake Whiskey from Thailand: This drink certainly looks lethal with that coiled up snake in the bottle. This whiskey is flavored with Asian Vine Snake which is said to be only mildly venomous, but it still looks quite threatening in that bottle.

Blood and Milk Cocktail: This is a Masai ceremonial drink made from cows milk and blood and served warm. It is enjoyed by the Masai People of Tanzania, Africa. The people in the photo look very happy with it, but most of us would be slightly queasy at the idea. Yuk!