Scotch Malt Whisky Society 54.58
$135.19
GLOWING EMBERS OF SATISFACTION
This 15 year old Speysider was transferred after 14 years in ex-bourbon wood into a 1st fill red wine barrique and comes in at 55.6%.
Flavour profile: Spicy & dry.
Outturn: 150 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A fruity, aromatic nose of apricot Danish, orange sherbet and trail mix (dried pineapple, papaya, banana and coconut, with plump sultanas); subtle hints of pipe tobacco in a leather pouch. The palate achieved a balance between sweet, rich and buttery (Eccles cakes, bread and butter pudding) and drying spice (ginger cake, sugar-coated fennel seeds, curried raisins). The reduced nose was juicy and appealing – dragon fruit, manuka honey and pineapple. The palate – toffee apple, ripe peach and raspberry brownie, leaving glowing embers of satisfying spice in the mouth afterwards. Transferred after 14 years in ex-bourbon wood into a first-fill red wine barrique."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society G15.2
$135.99
A BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT SUMMER AFTERNOON
This 7 year old Highlander from Scotlan'd most versatile distillery is 56.9% and was matured in a 2nd fill barrel.
Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla.
Outturn: 222 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "The sweet floral aroma of jasmine was soon followed by fresh Madagascan vanilla pods and white nougat laden with candied lemon peel and blueberries on a crisp rice-paper base. On the palate neat, comforting and soothing like a freshly brewed chamomile, honey and vanilla tea with a light peppery spiciness in the finish. After adding a drop of water even fresher – ‘a beautiful bright summer afternoon’ with the scent of eucalyptus and thyme next to a rosebush in full bloom, whilst to taste now juicy fruity wine gums, apricot custard Danish pastries as well as sweet jasmine rice pudding with shredded toasted coconuts."
Kavalan Solist Fino Old Price
$439.99
Kavalan Solist Manzanilla
$479.99
Kavalan Solist Moscatel
$579.99
Discontinued sku.
Kavalan Solist Vinho Canada Old Price
$289.99
Discontinued.
Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Blow Out
$134.99
The Solist Bourbon is from a single Ex-Bourbon cask bottled at cask strength, typically between 55-59% for this expression. In the handful of years since the whisky was first introduced globally, Kavalan's single malt has taken the world by storm winning international praise.
Taiwan's single malt matures at about 5-10 times the rate of most Scotch whiskies due to the country's hot climate. The whisky has a maturity well beyond its age owing to the environment. Even if they wanted to, the distillery couldn't leave the whisky to mature to advanced age as the evaporation is close to 10% per year. Each cask will vary a little from the last, but the quality is always exceptional.
Andrew's Tasting Note - 54%
Nose: very fresh, honeyed and floral, French crepes with powdered sugar and lemon juice; hell we are going with a full breakfast theme here, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, canned pineapple, marmalade and mango chutney.
Palate: very creamy and honeyed with some warming but not sharp spirit; the malt emerges late in the first sip while the floral tones and fruits hit quickly in the second; more melon, pineapple and orange rind (not quite as sweet as marmalade) and hot candied ginger and cinnamon sticks; it becomes doughy with more fruits and creamy oak.
Finish: long, coating and creamy with fading floral malt and tingling spices.
Comment: if this is your first taste of Taiwanese single malt and you're not yet converted... I'll shed a tear for you!
Whisky Advocate Tasting Note: "This is the pick of the bunch, the whisky equivalent of Fountains of Wayne; an effervescent dessert whisky, which from the first aroma to the final finish is a consistent mix of vanilla, coconut, and overripe banana, sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon." 94pts - Reviewed 2012.
Ardbeg 22 Year
$824.99
Distilled in 1996 and matured in ex-Bourbon casks, it is one of three whiskies from the Twenty-Something range, bottled in 2018 at 46.4%.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Luscious tropical fruits give way to sweet smoke, soot and tar.
Taste: At first, fresh green apple with a crumble topping. Notes of peppermint tea and sweet vanilla toffee flow into white pepper, clove, aniseed and eucalyptus oil. Then finally, some salty, woody tones.
Finish: A long lingering, mouth-watering sweet smoke finish.
Kinship Caol Ila 1983 52.6%
$899.99
Distilled in 1983 and bottled after 33 years at 52.6% after maturing in a Refill Sherry Butt. This was never supposed to leave Islay, but we managed to score a dozen bottles. Only 3 left at the time of writing and it is spectacular. A lovely older Ileach, but also a beautifully sherried malt. 91pts Serge.
91pts Serge @WhiskyFun: "Not too sure this one’s got a vintage statement, I couldn’t find any. What’s sure is that if it’s only a little close to the stupendous Port Ellen Kinship, we’re in for a treat. Colour: gold-amber. Nose: to tell you the truth I think not all peaters, whether young or old, tango well with sherry, but in this case, some obvious balance has been found. We’re navigating around lit cigars and cedar wood, leather oil, fried bacon (I know, I know, cholesterol), dried kelp on a beach, plasticine, and the tiniest amount of new leatherette. Some camphor too. Love camphor. With water: always love it when metal polish comes out. More cigars. Mouth (neat): an oily texture, and first some kind of smoked Seville oranges with cloves and caraway, then walnut wine, roasted pecans, some very salty bacon, then rather lapsang souchong and wee bits of black tobacco, untipped Gauloise style. Bitter chocolate. Feels ‘darker’ than it is. With water: careful, water can make it really very dry, but at around 45%, it sings loud and clear, with rather more walnuts, grass, and spices. Nutmeg, for example. Finish: long, greatly bitter and dry, with more tobacco mingled with liquorice wood. A feeling of walnut stain, perhaps. Comments: very dry-oloroso-y. Nothing against that. Now you can’t quite compare it with the Cadenhead, as styles are almost opposite. Although quality would be equivalent in my book."
