Archives for March 2017

Benromach / Sassicaia Wood Finish 2009

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Distillery: Benromach.
ABV: 46%
Unit: 70cl
Distilled/Bottled: 2009/2017
Age: 9 Year Old.
Cask Type: Ex Sassicaia.
This beautiful Benromach Wood Finish is matured in First Fill bourbon barrels, followed by 28 months in Sassicaia casks from the fashionable wine-producing region of Bolgheri in Tuscany.
Pour yourself a good dram and notice the stunning deep ruby red colour, imparted by the former Sassicaia wine casks from Bolgheri. Now take a few small inhalations and take in the AROMA WITHOUT WATER… the nose is brimming with luscious red berries and hints of ginger and cinnamon, complemented by a subtle sense of smoke.
Now sip and enjoy the TASTE WITHOUT WATER. The initial peppery palate gives way to a ripe fruit bowl of flavours… strawberries, raspberries, orange zest… and you can detect gorgeous milk chocolate drops, too. Add a little water for the AROMA WITH WATER, noticing the nose opening out… it’s fresh as a breeze with subtle herbs and summer fruits.
Now sip it, roll the whisky around your palate and enjoy the full TASTE WITH WATER, peppery with a sweet toffee note followed by a slight saltiness and a subtle smoky edge. Tell us what you think.
A limited release of 7783 bottles will be available.

Bowmore / 12 Year Old Single Malt

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Islay.
ABV: 40%
Unit: 70cl.
Age: 12 Year Old.
Colour: Warm amber.
Nose: Lemon, pears and honey.
Palate: Peat Smoke, dark chocolate.
Finish: Remarkably long and complex.

Glenallachie / 7 Year Old Clan Denny

Summary: Clan Denny proudly holds specialist, rare and aged Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. As the distiller intended, it's bottled without colouring or chill filtration, affording the Whisky a rich, oily quality.
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
ABV: 46%
Unit: 1 x 70cl
Bottler: Douglas Hamilton.
Bottling serie: Clan Denny.
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2015
Age: 7 years old
Casktype: Sherry Butt.
Casknumber: DH10956.
Fabulously fruited as it opens on the nose with a marmalade back drop, plus pastry, spices, barley and sherry all evident.
The palate is big and full of macerated red fruits plus an orange rind character, loads of really prevalent honey and a cranachan sweet, cereal style.
All neatly reappear in the finish with its last taste more reminiscent of a famous French orange based liqueur!
 

Braeval / 15 Year Old / Old Malt Cask

Summary: Since its inception in 1998 connoisseurs around the world have grown to trust the Old Malt Cask range of independent single cask bottlings as offering both exceptional, dependable quality and a wide array of flavour profiles from many of Scotland’s distilleries. Naturally the spirit never undergoes chill-filtration which would remove many of the oils and with them much of its mouthfeel and intensity of flavour and is never adulterated with the addition of caramel. At this stage the whisky is carefully and slowly reduced with the addition of the purest Scottish water to the traditional OMC bottling strength of 50% alcohol by volume – the perfect strength to show single malts in their full glory.
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
ABV: 50%
Unit: 1 x 70cl
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Bottling serie: Old Malt Cask
Distilled: 
Bottled: 
Age: 15 years old
Casktype: Sherry Butt
Casknumber: 
Strength: 50.0 % Vol.
Number of bottles: 677
Nose: Butter croissants, raspberry jam and crème caramel.
Palate: Velvety with red berries, marzipan and vanilla.
Finish: Enduring and beautifully dry with hint of nuts.

Glenfarclas / 12 Year Old Single Speyside Malt

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 35cl
ABV: 43%

Colour: Vibrant amber-gold.
Nose: Fresh and beautifully light, sherried fruit combined with a tempting spicy sweetness and a hint of sappy oak.
Flavour: Full bodied, delightful sherried fruit, with oak, a hint of peat and delicious sweet sensations.
Finish: Long and flavoursome, with a lingering spiceness.
Comment: An excellent introduction to the distillery style. Glenfarclas means Glen of the Green Grassland, and the freshness on the nose reminds me of grassland in spring.
So, for me, this is the ‘farclas’ aroma. In 2006 this was named the ‘Best Sherried Whisky’ in the Single Malt World Cup. More recently Glenfarclas 12 Years Old won Gold at the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival in 2007 and again in 2008.

Linkwood / 19 Year Old / Old Malt Cask

Summary: Since its inception in 1998 connoisseurs around the world have grown to trust the Old Malt Cask range of independent single cask bottlings as offering both exceptional, dependable quality and a wide array of flavour profiles from many of Scotland’s distilleries. Naturally the spirit never undergoes chill-filtration which would remove many of the oils and with them much of its mouthfeel and intensity of flavour and is never adulterated with the addition of caramel. At this stage the whisky is carefully and slowly reduced with the addition of the purest Scottish water to the traditional OMC bottling strength of 50% alcohol by volume – the perfect strength to show single malts in their full glory.
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
ABV: 50%
Unit: 1 x 70cl
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Bottling serie: Old Malt Cask
Distilled: 
Bottled: 
Age: 19 years old
Casktype: Refill Hogshead
Casknumber: 
Strength: 50.0 % Vol.
Number of bottles: 303
Nose: Vanilla, butterscotch and stewed rhubarb.
Palate: Silky and rich with blackcurrant and pineapple.
Finish: Long lasting, slightly drying with late oak.

anCnoc / 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands.
ABV: 46%.
Unit: 70cl
The anCnoc 12 Year Old is renowned the world over. Known as a must have in any whisky drinkers collection, it’s light and yet complex. Smooth yet challenging. And each twist and turn delivers a surprise. In fact, this is a dram that has something for everyone.
Nose: Soft, very aromatic with a hint of honey and lemon in the foreground.
Colour: Amber with a slight yellow hue.
Taste: Sweet to start with an appetising fruitiness and a long smooth finish. A malt for every occasion.
Ratings: 94 Points – Jim Murray's 2013 Whisky Bible.

anCnoc / 35 Year Old Single Malt/ 2nd Edition

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands.
ABV: 41%
Unit: 70cl
We’re delighted to announce the limited edition release of our most exclusive bottling to date; the balanced and full-bodied 35-year-old second release. The liquid is being introduced with just 670 bottles available globally.
Laid to rest for over three decades in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, the casks have been carefully chosen by distillery manager Gordon Bruce and master blender Stuart Harvey.
Giving rise to a unique dram that still retains its youthful edge; the 35-year-old has top notes of lemon curd, green apples and cut flowers followed by honey sweetness, creamy toffee, leather and spice. Warming wood smoke makes for a fragrant and rich aroma.
On the palate, it is oily and full-bodied with caramel honey and fresh vanilla complementing the subtle smokiness and warm spice.
Brand manager Stephanie Bridge commented: “The 35-year-old second release is a special expression for anCnoc, having been matured for more than three decades in our traditional dunnage warehouses which still retain their earthen floors and add so much to the quality and character of this special liquid The second release has lain in ex-bourbon barrels, offering fans something slightly different to the original expression. Our limited edition is a testament to the 35-year-old’s popularity with whisky lovers worldwide and we’re confident that this unique release will entice drinkers to add it to their collections.”
Colour: Baltic amber.
Nose: Top notes of lemon curd, green apples and cut flowers are followed by a heavier honey sweetness, creamy toffee, leather, spices and a pleasant touch of warming wood smoke, making for a fragrant and rich nose.
Taste: Oily and full-bodied. Honey and fresh vanilla sit firmly on the palate, with spiciness and, once again, slight smokiness woven in. The finish is long and rewarding, with hints of ground spices and caramel sweetness.
Non chill-filtered, natural colour.
anCnoc 35 year old 2nd release has matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels.

Kilchoman / 2008 Vintage

Summary: Country: Scotland.
Distillery: Kilchoman.
District: Islay.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Bottling serie: Vintage.
Distilled: July-2008
Bottled: August 2015
Casktype: Bourbon Casks – American Oak
Age: 7 years old.
Strength: 46% Vol.
Size: 70cl

Speyside / 15 year Old / Douglas Laing's Single Minded

Summary: Douglas Laing's Single Minded series is a range of Small Batch Single Malts from across a variety of Scotch Whisky regions. Each is bottled exactly the way the distiller intended: without colouring or chill-filtration. This expression, a Speyside 15 Years Old, is clean and floral on the nose, showing vanilla, malt and sweet spices. The palate is incredibly sweet, with crunched sugar and subtle citrus and an unexpected late peatiness.
Country: Scotland.
Distillery: ?.
District: Speyside.
Bottler: Douglas Laing.
Bottling serie: Single Minded.
Age: 15 years old.
Strength: 46% Vol.
Size: 70cl
Nose: Clean, honey’d & floral showing vanilla, malt & sweet spices at different stages.
Palate: Incredibly sweet with crunched sugar, juicy barley & mocha – even some citrus ahead of an unexpected late subtle peat suggestion.
Finish: All characteristics plus distinct barley sugar are nearly wrapped up into the finish.