Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.99
$114.99
PINE-SMOKED SALMON AND BURNING HEATHER
This 8 year old Highlander comes in at 60% and after 7 years in an ex-bourbon barrel it was transferred into a custom new oak barrel with a #4 char and heavily toasted heads
Flavour profile: Peated
Outturn: 216 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "On first nosing we were surrounded by “new age shop” fragrance (incense), and very intense smoke. With time, we imagined an old desk with lining paper. Upon it sat a bottle of rose water, some potpourri, a bowl of dried raspberries and a sprig of scorched heather. A final hint of peppery pine-smoked salmon invited us to delve deeper. Plumes of burning heather to taste, toasty and nutty. The smoke grew, and finished with smoked bacon crisps and aniseed. Water brought pencil shavings, herbal notes of rosemary and lemon thyme, and hot smoked salmon. The taste was still more savoury, like creamy whisky sauce poured on chicken stuffed with haggis. After 7 years in an ex-bourbon barrel, we transferred this to a custom new oak barrel with a #4 char and heavily toasted heads."
Drinking tip: "A post-meditation dram"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 7.167
$239.99
CHOCOLATE PRALINES IN AN OAK BOX
This 26 year old Speysider is 54% and after spending 25 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead it was transferred into a 1st fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.
Flavour profile: Sweet & spicy.
Outturn: 234 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "The distinctive woody whiff of old dunnage warehouse opened the doors for suggestions of soft fudge, nougat, toffee and dark chocolate pralines. Fruit followed with roasted peach and demerara sugar, overripe strawberries, gooseberries and rum soaked cherries before rich notes evolved of bitter chili chocolate, freshly ground coffee, tobacco and spiced orange chocolate covered marzipan. The extended finish combined perfumed talcum powder with Chantilly cream and a varnished cricket bat. After spending 25 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, this was transferred into a 1st fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead for the remainder of its maturation."
Drinking tip: "With a box of pralines and a bunch of flowers"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.117
$118.79
!!!SOLD OUT!!! - 100mL BOTTLES STILL AVAILABLE!
SMOKY, SALTY, SWEET PORRIDGE
This 9 year old from Islay comes in at 61.2% after maturing in a refill barrel
Flavour profile: Peated
Outturn: 150 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "Plenty of peat smoke, chimney soot and tar right at the beginning, but it did not stop there as we discovered an underlying sweetness which needed to be unearthed. In time we discovered aromas of brown sugar glazed parsnips, honey roasted chocolate peanuts and black currant wine gums. The taste was like a sweet golden syrup, but at the same time, smoky salty austere, steaming hot creamy porridge – most unusual. Water calmed tempers somewhat, on the nose now sweet potatoes and honey glazed carrots whilst on the palate grilled hot dogs with mango chutney and red onion relish."
Drinking tip: "Experience the difference between neat and diluted"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 37.89
$181.99
A COZY SLIPPER SIPPER
This 17 year old Speysider is 53.9% and after spending 17 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead it was transferred to a 1st fill French oak hogshead for the remainder of its maturation
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits
Outturn: 227 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "It was time to sit back and relax in a world of gloriously comforting aromas. Muscovado sugar and melted butter combined with cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg whilst on an open fire we roasted sweet chestnuts. Then figs, dates and porcini mushrooms came to the fore with a fruit zing of blood oranges, blackcurrant sweets and spiced rhubarb and ginger tart. The sweetness turned towards toffee and fudge with a suggestion of heather honey and sweet Malaga wine before finishing with old wood and dark chocolate. After spending 17 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead it was transferred to a 1st fill French oak hogshead for the remainder of its maturation."
Drinking tip: "Whilst relaxing by an open fire in a robe and fluffy slippers"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.84
$102.89
TUG OF WAR IN A MEADOW
From a refill butt, this15 year old Speysider is 57.4%.
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow.
Outturn: 572 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "The nose had us frolicking in flowery Spring meadows; then we were rewarded with apple strudel, strawberry jam donuts and mulled cider. Spice dominated the neat palate – spiced oranges in mulled wine, cinnamon apple pie and intense dark fruits; the finish contained drying white pepper and chili powder. The reduced nose was a tug of war – spiced wood, old bookshops and black bun* pitted against tinned pears, crème Anglaise and apple and elderflower. The palate found its resolution with water – playful nutmeg spice and sherbet, lemon meringue pie, vanilla and Belgian caramel wafer; strangely mouth-watering and drying at the same time. (*a very dark, spicy fruit cake enclosed in pastry, traditionally served in Scotland on New Year’s Eve)."
Drinking tip: "Perhaps with an apple dessert"
Scotch Malt Whisky Society G9.3
$106.49
FRUIT, SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE
This 16 year old single grain whisky from the Southern Highlands comes in at 62.6% after maturing in a 2nd fill barrel.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 245 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "First impressions swung heavily towards creamy vanilla and fine powdery sawdust with a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg spice. After a few deep breaths light citrus, milk chocolate and oily walnuts announced their arrival before developing into intriguing peppermint freshness. The palate delivered a punch of intense sweetness as it danced across brown sugar, mango and chocolate orange with the definite shadow of Caribbean rum. Water accentuated the citrus side with a lemon sherbet zing and a much softer and delicate approach on the palate that lead to a satisfying finish of dark chocolate, apple pie and candied orange."
Drinking tip: "A general purpose dram for all occasions and celebrations"
The Whisky Agency Ben Nevis 1996
$194.99
This single cask of Ben Nevis was bottled exclusively for Canada by Heads & Tails in partnership with The Whisky Agency. Distilled in 1996 the whisky was matured in a Hogshead and bottled after 21 years at 47.2%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: very creamy, English Breakfast tea with honey, scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam; minty, loads of berry fruit, marmalade and marzipan.
Palate: creamy and toasty; more English Breakfast tea with honey, marmalade on toast and berry fruits; caramel, vanilla bean, Demerara sugars and decadent spices.;
Finish: coating and creamy with late malt; the clotted cream on scones returns with floral tea notes, honey and berry fruits.
Comment: this is a pretty and elegant whisky; sweet and fruity; lots of character and no rough edges.
Valinch & Mallet Caol Ila 2002
$259.99
A 15 year old cask strength Caol Ila bottled at 52.7% by independent bottler Valinch & Mallet. Matured in a Sherry Hogshead, cask 17-002. 319 bottles, only a dozen of which have found their way to Canada.
Valinch & Mallet Longmorn 1989
$364.99
This 28 year old Longmorn, distilled in 1989, was bottled at a cask strength of 45.4% after maturing in a Bourbon Hogshead. Only 101 bottles were produced by the cask, just a fraction of which came to Canada.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: riesling Icewine and apple strudel with hand whipped cream; melons and citrus rinds; Starburst fruit candies and dried apricots with summer flowers.
Palate: soft, coating, creamy, fruity and floral; great balance; more hand whipped cream on traditional apple strudel; more birght juicy Starburst candies, dried apricots, orange rinds soaked in an Old Fashioned cocktail and quince paste.
Finish: long, soft, creamy and floral; very fruity with loads of vanilla.
Comment: this is very elegant and dangerously drinkable; it was pulled out of the wood in the knick of time, any longer and the oak would have started to turn on this delicate but very complex palate.