Archives for May 2016

Blantons / Special Reserve Bourbon

Summary: Country/Region: America/Kentucky.
Alc: 46.5%
Unit: 70cl
Created as an introductory edition to our full lineup, Blanton’s Special Reserve is ideal for those new to single barrel bourbons. A sweet taste profile with a floral nose and light undertones of vanilla and citrus make it perfect for a premium cocktail or served on the rocks.
Nose: Dry Citrus, Raisin, Light Vanilla, Spice.
Palate Entry: Sweet with Citrus, marked by a Light Vanilla and Honey.
Finish: Crisp with notes of Spice and a hint of Cinnamon Apple.
Best Served: On ice, or used in a premium cocktail.

Blantons / Gold Bourbon

Summary: Country/Region: America/Kentucky.
Alc: 51.5%
Unit: 70cl
Blanton’s Gold Edition was created for discerning connoisseurs who appreciate exceptional smoothness and clean finish in their bourbon whiskey. The rich taste of dark fudge, citrus, oak and cream combined with the spiciness of white pepper and rye lead to a long finish that challenges the world’s finest single malts and rarest cognacs in complexity and character.
Nose: Powerful and Dry, marked by Honey, Heavy Rye, Dried fruits, Vanilla, and Chocolate.
Palate Entry: Sharp, Full and Rich, Marked by Apricot, Butter, Pepper, Light Honey, and Oak.
Finish: Long, with Toffee and Apple, Developing on Pecan and Caramel.
Best Served: On ice, or used in a premium cocktail.

Midleton / Dair Ghaelach

Summary: Country: Ireland.
ABV: 58.2%.
Unit: 70cl.
Batch #: 1
Tree Number: 9
Midleton Dair Ghaelach. It means, quite simply, Irish Oak. This whiskey has been matured in barrels made from sustainable virgin Irish Oak grown on the Ballaghtobin Estate in Co. Kilkenny and what the oak brings to this special whiskey is the true and unique flavour of Ireland. Its provenance as individual as its fragrance, its journey from grain to glass as distinguished as its finish, this is a whiskey like no other.
The Irish Oak casks are filled with a select range of 15 to 22 year old Single Pot Still distillates. Nosed and tasted every month by our Master Blender, Billy Leighton, and Master of Maturation, Kevin O’Gorman, after almost a year, Midleton Dair Ghaelach was judged to be beautifully balanced; subtly yet unmistakably flavoured to perfection by the Irish Oak that gives it its name. Midleton Dair Ghaelach is one of a kind as it is our first Irish whiskey to be matured in home-grown Irish Oak.
NOSE: The crisp Pot Still spices are seamlessly enriched by the woodland fragrances of the Irish Oak. Sweet vanilla notes are given depth by some chocolate honeycomb and coffee beans, whilst the balancing rich fruit aromas of red berries, pineapple and ripe banana compliment the subtle aromatic oils.
TASTE: The typical Pot Still spices are fortified by the Irish Oak character. Robust yet mellow, clove and cinnamon give way to dairy fudge and milk chocolate sweetness combining with a touch of stewed apple.
FINISH: An exceptionally long finish, with some sweet spices slowly fading, leaving the final bow to the Irish Oak.
Ratings: Irish Whiskey of the Year and Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year / Jim Murray's 2016 Whisky Bible.

Glenmorangie / Taghta

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands.
Unit: 70cl.
ABV: 46%
Colour: Burnt Ochre.
Nose: Curiously nutty and salty at full strength, reminding you of brazil nuts embedded in toffee, hints of linseed oil, and some savoury cured ham.
A splash of water opens up the whisky, bringing into play a burst of aged balsamic vinegar, dried fruits, tangy-orange, and a gentle reminder of Christmas incense and spice.
Taste: The texture is oily and viscous, with a delicious primary flavour of caramelised orange and lemon, plump sultanas, a hint of brown sugar, but then a wave of salty, briny notes – olives, salted cashew nuts and some nice, toasty oak flavours, like walnut and leather.
The long aftertaste is rich, mellow and soothing, with flavours of toffee, caramel, chocolate and dates.

Tomatin / 12 Year Old

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Highland's.
ABV: 43%
Unit: 70cl
Cask Type: Matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Sherry casks.
The Tomatin 12 Year Old is smooth and silky, having been matured in traditional Scotch Whisky, ex-Bourbon and ex-Spanish Sherry casks. A rich, fruity aroma is the prelude to sweet flavours of ripe apples, pears and a subtle hint of nut before the long, pleasantly oily finish.
Ratings: Double Gold Medal / 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Tomintoul / With A Peaty Tang

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside.
Unit: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Tomintoul distillery was founded by the whisky broking firms W&S Strong and Hay & MacLeod. In 1974, the number of stills were doubled from 2 to 4, when its first single malt was marketed. For a number of years Tomintoul Single Malt was renowned for its perfume shaped bottle. The distillery is 8 miles from Tomintoul village which is used by walkers and climbers as a base camp.
Nose: takes me back to my early teens, spending schooldays working on a farm: pure farmyard with an earthy yet fruity punch. The sort of complex nose that almost makes you forget to drink the stuff…almost…;
Taste: a gentle coating of vaguely sweet peat that multiplies in intensity; salivating yet chewy. Some liquorice and hickory notes make their drying mark;
Finish: distinctly gristy and unusually dry for a smoky malt. Long, luscious and not a little oaky late on;
Balance: a bit more than a tang, believe me! Faultlessly clean distillate that revels in its unaccustomed peaty role. The age is confusing and appears mixed, with both young and older traits being evident.
Ratings: 94 Points – Jim Murray's 2016 Whisky Bible.

Strathisla / Gordon & Macphail 27 Year Old / Vintage 1967

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland / Speyside.
Unit: 70cl.
ABV: 40%.
Distilled/Bottled: 1967/1994.
Miscellaneous: Only 1 bottle left.
Founded by George Taylor and Alexander Milton, it was originally known as Milton – named after the nearby Milton Castle. Strathisla was the name of the actual whisky produced and eventually became the name of the distillery.
Much of Strathisla's production is used for blending and the distillery is the home of the one of the most famous blends – Chivas Regal.The distillery is the oldest in Northern Scotland and is certainly a delightful distillery to visit as it has an almost fairytale quality.

Mackinlay's / Shackleton Replica

Summary: Country/Region: Scotland.
Unit: 70cl.
ABV: 47.3%
Yes, this is it – an exact replica of the whisky left in Antarctica by Sir Ernest Shackleton during his Antarctic expedition between 1907 and 1909. The whisky was recreated down to the very last detail by Whyte and Mackay’s blender extraordinaire, Richard Paterson. The final replica bottle of Mackinlay’s blend contains whiskies from Speyside, the Island, and the Highlands, and the recipe even includes some very rare 1983 Glen Mhor!
THE SENSORY EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Light honey, straw gold with shimmering highlights.
NOSE: Soft, elegant and refined. Delicate crushed apple, pear and fresh pineapple. Notes of oak shavings and smoke. Hints of vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg.
TASTE: Plenty of impact on the palate; a tantalising array of flavours,harmonious and exhilarating.
THE PRESENTATION
BOX: A unique, stand-out hexagonal "shipping case" with an open "see me" window on the front panel. The raffia-encasing of the product is reminiscent of the original straw-bound bottles discovered in the Antartic. A holographic badge issues authenticity.
BOTTLE: A painstaking process was followed to ensure all bubbles and imperfections in the original were replicated. In effect, the glass manufacturer turned off all the modern-day quality controls.
LABEL SET: All lettering was meticulously drawn by hand to ensure a perfect match to the original. Paperstocks were selected to perform as the original stocks of over a century ago.