Kornog Sauternes Cask Single Malt Whisky
$169.99
One of the newest expressions from Kornog, the Sauternes Cask has, like the Roch Hir, been bottled at 46% without colouring or chill-filtering. "Taouarc'h Pevared" was made from malt peated to a lower specification than Roch Hir, 30-35%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: a massive hit of salted caramel and decadent spice from the word go; cinnamon hearts and new cured leather; floral with loads of citrus, tart and nutty: more peanut rather than almond brittle.
Palate: big, chewy and nutty; more peanut brittle, new leather and spices; muscavado sugars and salted caramel; dark Russian chocolate and liquorice develop with late cinnamon hearts; under all this a base of juicy malt and smoke!
Finish: for all its boldness and oppulence on the palate the finish is clean and fruity; salt, malt and smoke at the distant end once the caramel, chocolate and fruits have faded.
Comment: the nose is a bit untuous, but the palate more than makes up for it; light on the finish, but I would take this over the Roch Hir.
Producer Description
"TheThis new bottling of Kornog has been bottled from Sauternes casks, at 46% without chill filtering nor caramel colouring. Kornog is the peated expression (30 to 35 PPM of phenols) of Glann ar Mor Distillery."
Kornog Sant Erwan Single Malt Whisky
$179.99
The Kornog Sant Erwan comes from a specially selected single ex-Bourbon Barrel and is bottled at 50% ABV.
Founded in 1999 with full production beginning in 2005, Glann Ar Mor Distillery resides on the Northern Coast of France in Brittany. Owned by Martine and Jean Donnay, Glann Ar Mor roughly translates to 'By the Seaside' as that is where the distillery resides, which also seems to reflect the style of whisky they produce.The distillery produces two distinct styles of Single Malt Whisky: the unpeated and self-named Glann Ar Mor and the peated Kornog. Kornog whisky is typically peated to a level of 35-40PPM.
Kornog Sant Ivy Single Malt Whisky
$199.99
The Kornog Sant Ivy comes from a specially selected single ex-Bourbon Barrel and is bottled at Cask Strength. The current release is bottled at 59.9% ABV
Founded in 1999 with full production beginning in 2005, Glann Ar Mor Distillery resides on the Northern Coast of France in Brittany. Owned by Martine and Jean Donnay, Glann Ar Mor roughly translates to 'By the Seaside' as that is where the distillery resides, which also seems to reflect the style of whisky they produce.The distillery produces two distinct styles of Single Malt Whisky: the unpeated and self-named Glann Ar Mor and the peated Kornog. Kornog whisky is typically peated to a level of 35-40PPM.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 7.176
$214.99
SILKY SMOOTH SENSATION
At 23 years old, this Speysider came from a refill hogshead and is 51.6%.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 249 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A friendly, inviting and warm aroma greeted the Panel and we felt like being transported on a soft fluffy magic carpet to the Caribbean to sit in front of the pavilion to watch a cricket match. The floral scent of magnolia mixed with tropical fruits and new leather as well as linseed oil made us all feel very relaxed. Time for tea; ginger banana cake with a lemon frosting, passionfruit vanilla custard slice and sticky chocolate plum cake. Play resumed after a drop of water with chewy coconut macaroons and minty lemon-ginger cookies and the finish was like the gentle cooling trade winds at sunset."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 41.95
$139.99
JOUSTING WITH FLOWERS
This 11 year old Speysider comes in at 56.2% after maturing in a refill barrel.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 226 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Armed with huge floral bouquets the two jousting horsemen faced each other and raised their caramel wafer shields. With a kick of the heels they charged and the tremendous impact launched buds of roses, hyacinths and carnations into the air, giving rise to a sweet scent that mixed with the soft leather of the harnesses. A gust of wind blew the surrounding conifer and eucalyptus trees, blending a fresh citrus and peppermint breeze with the smell of wood sap. The falling petals cleared to reveal the two jousters as they stood to their feet clutching their battered flower stems. Taking a tea break of champions they enjoyed marmalade on rye bread toast, crème Brule and vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 55.46
$118.99
COMPLEX LAYERS OF FRUIT AND WOOD
At 58.1% this 16 year old Speysider spent 15 years in ex-bourbon wood before being transferred to a new French oak hogshead.
Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits.
Outturn: 293 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Double maturation has produced a complex nose – oak, aniseed, turmeric, ginger and varnished wood underneath fruity, perfumed layers of Amarena cherries, plums, prune juice, blackcurrant and Madeira wine. The palate also had attractive fruit and wood – plum, cherry, pear, black grapes and raisins counterpointed by sherry staves, tree bark and cured venison (with a particularly drying finish). The reduced nose – beetroot crisps in a basket, crystallized ginger and Black Forest ham on a wooden board. The palate now added liquorice chews and dark chocolate with ginger. After 15 years in ex-bourbon wood we transferred this to a new French oak hogshead."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 70.20
$129.99
SPICED SAINT-TROPEZ TART
From a refill barrel, this 10 year old Highlander is 57.6%
Flavour profile: Sweet & spicy
Outturn: 203 bottles
Panel's tasting note: "A fresh, bright and summery scent filled the room, cupcakes in white fondant icing and topped with a cherry, sparkling strawberry lemonade and a tropical fruit punch iced tea brought a smile to our faces and that smile never left us. Wonderfully sweet on the palate neat, like a vanilla cream filled brioche (Saint-Tropez tart) balanced by the sweet and tangy spiciness of a tamarind date chutney – most unusual but it worked! Diluted the scent of freshly made lemon filled doughnuts and salt & vinegar crackers turned it equally tasty and tempting. The taste was now sweet and slightly perfumed as well as herbal like a ginger lemon mint tisane."
Cadenhead Small Batch Linkwood 1995
$187.99
Bottled at a cask strength of 55.3% ABV, this Cadenhead Small Batch was distilled at Linkwood and aged in ex-Bourbon Hogsheads.
DT Octaves Bunnahabhain 2008 KWM
$99.99
Our most limited KWM exclusive single cask in a while, just 66 bottles. Matured 9 years in oak casks and finished for 4 months in a bespoke Duncan Taylor Sherry Octave. Bottled at 52.6%.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: jujubes and a leather barber's strap; old-fashioned shaving soap in a polished wooden bowl; a touch of chocolate, raisins and figs dipped in honey.
Palate: big, heavy and malty with bold sherry notes over a base of honey-vanilla; a thick chocolate base with orange, raisins figs and decadent spices; more polished wood and old-fashioned shaving soap; still leathery, musty and oaky, soft nutty tones and more jujubes; spices transition into candied fennel and a touch of clove.
Finish: long, drying and bold; the palate is coating and leathery with more chocolate, citrus, dried dark fruits and spices.
Comment: if this was an SMWS malt, I would call it "Eating chocolate & jujubes in a barber's chair."!
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Milk chocolate, buttercream icing, dark fruits, chili lime rub, jalapeno/capsicum, new-car leather, hints of bacon and a slight touch of peat, brine and iodine.
Palate: Creamy and spicy at the same time. Light peat. Chocolate coated almonds, salted caramels, fruit leather, Fisherman's Friend lozenges, salt & pepper seafood platter and a squeeze of citrus.
Finish: Dates, chocolate, black pepper and a bit of smoke and brine.
Comments: A spicy but not too punchy young Bunnahabhain. Not heavily peated but there is some peat in there. At this price and only 66 bottles (65 since we opened a sample bottle), this will not last long.