Scotch Malt Whisky Society 71.38

$194.39

A CHEESE BOARD IN A LIBRARY

Bottled at 57% after 27 years in a Refill Hogshead this Speyside is a light mature and complex dram in style.

Profile: "Sweet, fruity & mellow."

Panel's Tasting Note: "A tired bowl of fruit (including bruised apples and ripe peaches), backed by polished wood panelling, leather books and faded roses, then a scent of mild cheeses (Caboc, unripe brie, white stilton) and Melba toast. The taste reflects some of these scents: sweet, then ‘cheese on a Cream Cracker’. With water the cheese note shifts to fullfat creamy (Laughing Cow), with melon, green banana, peach skin and a hint of chestnut bath oil. Soft and sweet to taste, then faintly fizzy/peppery (Flying Saucers candies, spicy), with a long warming finish and a hint of banana    yogurt in the aftertaste. This distillery supplies the heart malt for Ballantine’s, so is uncommon."

Drinking Tip: "With cheese and grapes after informal supper."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society G1.11

$156.59

ICED MULLED WINE AND SORRENTO LIMONCELLO

Bottled at a punchy 65.1% this single grain whisky was matured in a refill sherry butt for 21 years

Flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

Outturn:  384 bottles

Panel's tasting note: "The initial nose was a combination of oak shavings and linseed oil with sweeter aromas arriving very quickly. We discovered very ripe peaches and nectarines, toffee apple sponge pudding, Scotch pancakes, Bourbon vanilla buttercream and Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Sweet flavours dominate on the palate neat as well, but at the same time zesty as a lemon or lime rind, mouth drying and fizzy like orange flavoured Tango popping candy. Adding a drop of water increases the sweetness on the nose; orange cream fondant, fudge, carameliszed sugar, vanilla pods and candied orange and lemon peel. The taste is like an iced mulled wine with cloves and cinnamon and a true Sorrento Limoncello. This is a very elegant example from Edinburgh‘s only operating distillery." 

Drinking tip: "Celebrating the arrival of summer"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.76

$101.69

DUELLING BANJOS DRAM

At just 8 years of age and at a potent 60.8% this Refill Barrel Matured Ileach is an award winner. It won a silver for 12 years and under in Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky.

Profile: "Peated."

Panel's Tasting Note: "The unreduced nose had a definite kick - burning driftwood by boat sheds, canvas and leather (like a straight-jacket) and sucking salty smoke over oyster shells in a hookah pipe; but this duelling banjos dram had a pleasant side too – cranachan, honey, pear, citrus and vanilla; lime pickle and coal-dust never far away. The palate offered big, sweet, nutty smoke, liquorice, toffee and dark chocolate – grungy for sure, but tastier than expected – fruity flavours swirling around in a briny, oily puddle and chipotle and Tabasco tingling away at the mouth, like a memory of combat. The distillery is near a wreck."

Drinking Tip: "A dram for a hard road or daredevil moments - step up to the plate."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.61

$139.49

CAL-MAC WELDER'S TEA BREAK

This 14 year old Campbeltown malt has been bottled at 53.3% from a refill hogshead cask

Flavour profile:  Oily & coastal

Panel's tasting note:  "On the nose, the sweet charabanc of sugar puffs, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, fudge cookies, honey and chocolate flapjacks collided into the savoury wall of smoky bacon crisps, barbecued prawns and baked ham. The palate was also a crash site – big, rich and chewy, with cinder toffee, spiced sultanas and dark honey on toast scattered in a frightening wreckage of charcoal, ash, liquorice sticks, peat reek and industrial garages. The reduced nose suggested a welder on a Cal-Mac ferry enjoying a Daim Bar. The palate – sweet and (we thought) acceptably dirty with a big spicy finish. From the ‘quiet outsider’ distillery in Campbeltown."

Drinking tip:  "To aid the visceral enjoyment of a brutal rugby match"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.64

$201.59

ANYTIME CAN BE CHRISTMAS

Bottled at 58.4% this refill sherry butt matured Speysider is 24 years old

Flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

Outturn:  532 bottles 

Panel's tasting note:  "Rich and mellow, with dried fruits (dates, figs, sultanas) and spices (cinnamon, ginger), Christmas cake, well anointed with sweet sherry and ginger wine. A voluptuous sweet taste at natural strength, with figs and dry chocolate; warming with a long finish. A drop of water continues the Christmas cake theme, with fruit-cake mix, icing sugar, candied peel (both orange and lemon) and the waxed paper wrap-around. The mouthfeel is very smooth, the taste sweet (but not cloying), slightly mouth-drying, with chocolate in the finish and hazelnut praline in the aftertaste. ‘It conjures sleigh-bells in the snow’ – whenever you like!"

Drinking tip:  "As a special treat"

Craigellachie 13 Year

$67.49

Adelphi Fascadale Batch 7

$80.99

This 14 year old Highland Park has been bottled by Adelphi at 46% with its natural colouring and non-chill filtered. Matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. 1391 bottles released worldwide.

"Fascadale 'ships haven', lies on the north west point of the rugged, and timeless Ardnamurchin peninsula. Its hidden, pebbled beach looks West and North towards the islands of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Skye. Whispered tales of smuggling abound..."

Producer's Tasting Note: "A breather on the hill with lemon drizzle cake., Red Pippin apples, creamy highland fudge and peat bogs. A little smoke to taste with lingering fresh apple skin."

Adelphi Bunnahabhain 1989

$166.49

Tullibardine 1952 60 Year

$25,020.00

Available by request!

This is the oldest and rarest Tullibardine ever bottled. The first release in the distillery's "Custodian's Collection", all of which will be at least 40 years of age or older. This first release is setting the bar very high indeed, distilled in 1952 it was bottled after 60 years! Only 60 bottles produced, each filled into a Bakarat decanter designed specially for the distillery. Specific bottle numbers are available by request (1 and 18 are gone).

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: soft and fruity with subtle caramel, old but balanced oak; some crisp spices with a hint of older agave and candied fruits; a touch of earthiness with some mellow tropical fruit notes.

Palate: very soft, fruity and elegant; the tropical fruits really dominate, a little greenish and under-ripe; spices, candied fruit and more hints of agave emerge with some creamy beeswax and some faint earthy notes.

Finish: old and elegant, it dries but is still very rich and layered for its light profile.

Comments: very balanced for its age, far from over the hill.