Scotch Malt Whisky Society 84.15

$106.19

AN APPLE A DAY: This Speysider is 56.4% after maturing 11 years in a Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. "The taste is now that of chocolate limes, peaches and apricots but also Appletiser and a spritzy apple wine mixed with sparkling water."

Panel's Tasting Note: "The initial nose without water is very fruity and sweet; rich red apples, ripe bananas, candid pears as well as lemon drizzle cake and Danish pastry. With time deeper notes like toffee and chocolate eclair emerge. The taste neat is hot like biting on a chilli, also fresh oak and expensive apple schnapps. With the generous addition of water grapefruit and lime appear next to - you have guessed it already I am sure - apple sorbet ice cream, candid apple and Campino candy. The taste is now that of chocolate limes, peaches and apricots but also Appletiser and a spritzy apple wine mixed with sparkling water what makes this a very refreshing drink indeed."

Drinking Tip: "Picking apples on a sunny autumn day."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 36.61

$98.99

HOT CHILLI PEPPERS & VANILLA ICE CREAM: A 10 year old Speysider at 58.8% after maturing in a First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. "Creamy to taste, chilli powder, icing sugar and Bitter Lemon with the bitterness and tannin of a dry white wine in the finish."

Panel's Tasting Note: "The Panel was greeted by an intriguing combination of vanilla and new oak. Fruity notes appearing over time, juicy red apples, lemons and pink grapefruits. Back to sweet aromas like the ‘honeycombed’ sugared centre of a Crunchie bar and crushed nuts on vanilla ice cream. Very juicy neat on the palate - freshly squeezed white grapefruit, but at thesame time the extreme heat of a very hot chilli pepper. With water, more delicate on the nose, flowery - white roses and lilies, and fruity - lychees and kumquats. The oak is now that of wood shavings and a freshly sharpened pencil. Creamy to taste, chilli powder, icing sugar and Bitter Lemon with the bitterness and tannin of a dry white wine in the finish.This distillery is named after the highest mountain in the region."

Drinking Tip: "Whilst having a break from a do-it-yourself project."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 33.125

$98.99

SALTED CARAMEL LOLLIPOP: Panel's Tasting Note: "Smoky peat chimneys, fresh tobacco, leather gloves, bbq pork sausages, honey glazed ham, breakfast kippers were only a small number of descriptors coming immediately to mind nosing neat. One panel member found himself in a ‘theatre’ with surgical tape, bandages and gauze dressing. In the taste, germoline Antiseptic cream quickly followed by a peaty, tarry and sooty array of flavours with a fresh salty and seaweedy crisp finish. With the careful addition of water the aroma of tar sticking to an expensive leather shoe came to mind next to pork scratching and lobster with roast gammon. Now the taste has a balance between the smoke, the sweetness and the salt, smoked kippers and salted caramels. This young beauty comes from the most easterly of the three distilleries in the Kildaton parish." Drinking Tip: "Sitting on a harbour wall watching the tide coming in."

Glenrothes 1991 1L

$125.99

This 1L bottlinf of the Glenrothes was distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2008 at 43%.

Distiller's Tasting Note

Bouquet: Rich, mature aroma, berry fruits, vanilla and white chocolate.

Palate: Soft, mature palate, coconut, vanilla butterscotch.

Finish: Long, vanilla sweet finish.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.128

$153.89

DEEP, DARK & HUGELY ENTERTAINING: Panel's Tasting Note: "The nose had sweet hickory smoke, pagoda roof timbers and aboat-builder’s workbench; rich, delightful savoury notes (grilledprawns and scallops in balsamic glaze, roast pig with an apple inits mouth); plus molasses, cough syrup, five-spice powder andleather. The reduced nose seemed Christmassy (aromatic applelogs, chimney soot, roast pork), even pagan (dried flowers, smokywool and leather clothing). The palate was deep and dark (treacletoffee, molasses, balsamic glaze, fig jam) but hugely entertaining.In reduction, the palate became ashy and drying, with creosote,driftwood bonfires, charred limes and well-done meringues. From the nearest distillery to Port Ellen." Drinking Tip: "To celebrate the winter solstice (or Christmas)or while watching a Tim Burton movie."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society G3.3

$165.59

CURIOUS BUT GOOD

This single grain whisky is still 56% after maturing 26 years in a refill ex-bourbon barrel

Panel's tasting note: "The shimmering, shape-shifting nose started with wood glue, then cricket bats, cigar boxes and polished furniture, before soaring into crème caramel, buttered brioche, vanilla and cafe crème – eventually we found tea-smoked duck. To taste, we got Lapsang Souchong and Turkish coffee, banana toffee and ‘licking butterscotch off a polished table.' The reduced nose seemed slightly odd, with initial raisin, Riesling and truffle oil resolving into honey, toffee and Crunchy Nut Cornflake sweetness. The palate became sweet and spicy, ‘curious but good’ – hickory-smoked almonds, toasted hazelnuts, sandalwood, five-spice powder and apple skins in the finish. The Haymarket-based distillery closed in 1993."

Drinking Tip: "A dram to offer when something different is needed - needs an open mind"

Tomatin 15 Year Special Edition

$84.59

"43% alc./vol. Soft and delicate but with a significant influence from the North American oak. Aroma - Light and fresh. Citrus fruits, vanilla, fruit cake. Oak prominent throughout. Taste - Good balance. Smooth, medium body, delicate honey and mild orange. Finish – Quite long; lingers on the palate. Cask - Matured in refill American Oak casks," according to the Tomatin team.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society G3.2

$184.49

WALNUT SPELT BREAD WITH SUNFLOWER SEEDS: 34 year old single grain Scotch whisky at 58.3% after maturing in a Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. "The taste neat is quite hot and fizzy with sweet caramel and a spicy green woody note."

Panel's Tasting Note: "The initial nose is quite closed and only with time dried fruits like pear, papaya, mango and banana as well as walnut spelt bread with sunflower and sesame seeds appear. The taste neat is quite hot and fizzy with sweet caramel and a spicy green woody note. Water releases perfumed aromas as well as sweet ones; such as iced buns with a strawberry jam filling and a chocolate hazelnut spread. To taste, quite sweet; vanilla,milk chocolate, golden corn syrup, lychees as well as a fruity taste of unripe apricots with a slightly bitter finish. This make comes from a distillery, closed in 1988, which once was famed for having Europe’s biggest patent still."

Drinking Tip: "Whilst baking or with chocolate."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.51

$163.79

MEAD, SHERRY & BUTTERSCOTCH: A powerful Speysider 57.9% after 23 years in a Refill Sherry Butt. "Honey, mead, raisins, figs, sherry, butterscotch and brown sugar on the nose – so much improved."

Panel's Tasting Note: "Burnt raisins, wet leaves, damp forest floor, welly boots, dark marmalade on burnt toast, cocoa, hazelnuts and pancakes & maple syrup - pleasant for some, not for others. Hot, bitter, tannic with burnt orange and toast crusts all with a slight rubbery aftertaste it was crying out for water. Diluted we now got honey, mead, raisins, figs, sherry, butterscotch and brown sugar on the nose so much improved. To taste it was still rubbery but much more elegant with apricot jam, barley sugar and butterscotch with a wonderful sweet aftertaste. This distillery gets its water from the Auchinderran burn."

Drinking Tip: "Needs water."