Whisky Agency Ardmore 2005
$178.49
A mainland peated malt from Ardmore. Distilled in 2005, matured for 16 years in a Hogshead, and bottled in 2022.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 51.3% abv
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."
Old Ballantruan 10 Year Peated Speyside
$124.99
Old Ballantruan is a peated version of Tomintoul single malt, named for the distillery's spring. With a peat spec at an impressive 55ppm for the malt, this should be a must-try for peated whisky fans. The first issue of this whisky with the 10-Year-Old age statement was launched in 2012. It is bottled at 50%.
Benromach 15 Year
$104.99
The new Benromach 15 Year, in sharp new packaging, is made from malts matured in First Fill Bourbon and First Fill Sherry casks before bottling at 43%.
Signatory 100 Proof Macduff 13 Yr #55
$119.99
This 2011 Macduff was matured in First Fill & Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts before bottling at 13 years and 57.1%.
Glenturret 7 Year Peat Smoked
$84.99
This peated Glenturret bottled at 46% was primarily matured in American oak, but with a little European to add sweet fruit notes. We currently have the 2023 release, but the 2024 is arriving soon.
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt
$91.99
We have been lucky to get a couple of dozen bottles of the Miyagikyo Single Malt, over the last few years allocations have been very tight. 45%. Hoping we see more of this single malt soon!
Producer Description
This is a single malt from the Miyagikyo distillery, Nikka's second distillery built in 1969. The founder Masataka Taketsuru chose this site in the mountains of Sendai to contrast with his first distillery, Yoichi, located in the coastal area. Using less peaty malt and distilled in a pot still heated by indirect steam, Miyagikyo single malt has an elegant fruitiness and a distinctive aroma with a strong Sherry cask influence."
Ardbeg An Oa
$107.99
"An Oa" is named for Islay's wild Mull of Oa on the south-west coast. The prominent headland offers the Kildalton coast a bit of shelter from the tempestuous North Atlantic. The area was in centuries past the scene of much illicit distilling. The whisky is the first new core release in the Ardbeg range for close to a decade. Crafted to offer a more approachable take on Ardbeg whisky, the spirit was matured in a mix of PX Sherry, Virgin Oak and Ex-Bourbon casks. The mix was then rested in the distillery's new Gathering Vat'.
46.6% ABV
Producer Description
"A welcome new addition to the Ultimate range. Ardbeg An Oa is singularly rounded, due in no small part to time spent in our newly established bespoke oak Gathering Vat where whiskies from several cask types - including; sweet Pedro Ximenez; spicy virgin charred oak; and intense ex-bourbon casks, amongst others - familiarise themselves with each other. The result is a dram with smoky power, mellowed by a delectable, smooth sweetness. Hallmark Ardbeg peat,dark chocolate and aniseed are wrapped in smooth, silky butterscotch, black pepper and clove, before rising to an intense crescendo of flavour."
Millstone PX Peated Single Malt 46%
$84.99
Produced by the Zuidam family distillery in Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands, this peated Millstone single malt whisky was aged entirely in PX Solera Sherry Casks. Bottled in small batches at 46% ABV.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Rich Sherry notes along with wood and spice notes. Cloves, juniper, star anise, gingerbread, trail mix with raisins and walnuts, maple syrup, and an underlying potpourri and wood smoke.
Palate: The peat comes out more on the palate, with sweet notes from the PX Sherry and a lot of nuttiness. Toasted almonds, walnuts, dates, maple syrup again, earthy tobacco, fruit leather, amaretto, Frangelico, black licorice and Montreal steak spice.
Finish: The earthy smoke from the peat and nutty notes from the sherry linger together nicely.
Comment: This is big sherry with a decent amount of smoke, but very approachable. The spice notes and the smoke keep the PX Sherry influence from going overly sweet and decadent, which is surprising. This could have been over the top, but it finds a nice balance.