Oban 14 Year
$152.99
Oban 14 is a touchstone malt. One that sits on most backbars across the country. It's rather singular profile makes it a restaurant favorite, in fact, and it's silky, salty and slightly peaty profile make it a complimentary malt to most food styles. Ask most any whisky fan what their gateway dram was and you're almost certain to hear this one crop up in the first few whiskies mentioned. There's good reason for that. Oban's malty, cereal-driven, and faintly peaty profile has just enough fruity sweetness underlying (and even a wee creamy top note!) that it is able to seduce ridiculously broad audiences through its sheer approachability. More defining than any of the afore-mentioned characteristics, though, is the coastal influence that permeates every bottle of Oban. That slightly saline character puts this in a special category that only a handful of Scotland's malts fit into.
Oban 14 is a part of Diageo's Classic Malts series for good reason. You may find it safe, but there's no way you won't find it utterly satisfying. 43% abv
Talisker 10 Year
$109.99
One of the truly singular Scottish single malt whiskies, Talisker boasts a character unlike any other and is almost instantly recognizable in any of its forms. The distillery, only a dozen years away from its 200th anniversary, is known worldwide for its moderate level of peat and smoke, but more famously for the rich pepper/chili notes and briny seaside flavors that run through the DNA of all the malt produced there. Some whiskies require lengthy maturation to hit full stride. Talisker is one that not only shines in youth but actually showcases its brightest characteristics in its early years. The 10 year old is undoubtedly a special whisky but is approachable enough to be a go-to in the rotation.
Bottled at a respectable 45.8% abv.
Balvenie 12 Year Doublewood 40%
$102.99
Bottled at 40% the Balvenie Double Wood is matured in ex-Bourbon casks before finising in Oloroso sherry casks for 9 months. The whisky is then married in tuns for 3-4 months before bottling.
Producer Description
"DoubleWood 12 was launched in 1993, using a process designed by our Malt Master David Stewart in 1982, now commonly known as 'wood finishing'. To make The Balvenie DoubleWood, David Stewart MBE takes whisky that has spent at least 12 years in traditional whisky casks, American Oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, and moves it to Spanish oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks for an additional nine months. The whisky is then transferred to large oak vessels called “tuns” for 3-4 months to allow the whiskies from individual casks to “marry”.'
Deanston Virgin Oak
$52.99
From Deanston Distillery in the Highlands - This is a no age statement single malt scotch finished in virgin oak casks and bottled at a generous 46.3% ABV.
Clynelish 14 Year
$109.99
Although the current Clynelish distillery was founded in 1967, it's origin can be traced to it's now demolished sister distillery, Brora. Founded in 1819 it was originally known as Clynelish. Interestingly in the 18thC. it was held in such high regard that the whisky was privately sold. Today the majority of Clynelish is destined for blending, with only a small amount for bottling as single malt.
Producer Description
Clynelish whisky is closer to an Island style than other mainland malts, with a complex and fragrant nose and an agreeable, long finish that leaves a lingering fresh-fruity flavour. This 14-year-old is a less heavyweight whisky that's deliciously drinkable and makes it an excellent aperitif.
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
$78.99
Produced exclusively from Scottish barley, which is only very lightly peated in line with the classic Laddie style, this core release has been bottled at 50% after maturing predominantly in American oak. The actual cask composition is evolving and varries from batch to batch. We have been consistently impressed with this whisky.
Producer Description
"Our signature bottling and the definitive Bruichladdich. Showcasing the classic, floral and elegant Bruichladdich house style, The Classic Laddie is made from 100% Scottish barley, trickle distilled, non-chill filtered and colouring free.
"The foundation for our Classic Laddie is not a recipe set in stone, but a distilling philosophy. We have no interest in precise uniformity, instead - year by year - the variety and provenance of our barley shapes our spirit, and an ever-increasing range of casks are sourced to evolve the variety of flavours in our warehouse."
Glenmorangie Lasanta 43%
$104.99
The whisky begins with a base of the same spirit that goes into Glenmorangie Original, 10 year old whisky matured exclusively in American oak Ex-Bourbon casks. The whisky is then finished for 2 years in Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain.
From the Distillery: Lasanta is Gaelic for warmth and passion, a reminder not just of the Spanish provenance of these Oloroso sherry butts, but also a reflection of this expressions lusciously soft texture and deep, enticingly sweet aroma.Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel."
Distiller's Tasting Note:
Aroma: Warm spices mix with smooth chocolate covered raisins, honeycomb and caramel toffee.
Taste: Deliciously sweet sherry flavoured sultanas, orange segments, walnuts and butterscotch combine to create complex warm spices.
Finish: Long and satisfying finish with spiced orange and chocolate covered hazelnuts.
Arran Quarter Cask 56.2%
$86.99
This NAS release from Arran's Lochranza Distillery spent seven years in first fill ex-Bourbon Barrels before being transferred into 125 Litre American Oak Quarter Casks for another two years of maturation. It is bottled at a cask strength of 56.2% ABV with no colouring added and unchill filtered.
Lagavulin 8 Year
$103.99
This is the new core release of Lagavulin 8 Year, released on the heels of the highly successful 200th Anniversary release of Lagavulin 8 Year. Bottled at 48% it was matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-wine seasoned casks.
Georgie Crawford said: ‘The 8 Year Old is a signature Lagavulin-style bottling with a liveliness that balances out the Islay smokiness. We hope that Lagavulin fans will enjoy this bottling, just as Alfred Barnard did centuries ago.’"