Archives for July 2018

Mortlach / 15 Year Old Gordon MacPhail Distillery Label.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Mortlach.

BOTTLER: Gordon MacPhail.

BOTTLING SERIE: Distillery Labels.

BOTTLED: 2018

STATED AGE: 15 years old.

CASK TYPE: 1st & Refill Sherry Casks.

STRENGTH: 43% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml.

AROMA: Distinctly malty initially with fresh aromas of a woodland hedgerow. Delicate sherry notes linger and weave with rich indulgent toffee, sweet liquorice, and orange marmalade.

TASTE: Reminiscent of a black forest cake; the initial sweetness develops into fruity blackcurrant jam, maraschino cherry, and creamy vanilla. Freshly peeled orange notes add a fresh lift.

FINISH: Well rounded; hints of candied citrus fruits and oak complement the lingering malty edge.

Tomatin / 15 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highlands.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Tomatin.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Limited Edition.

DISTILLED: 2003

AGE: 15 Year Old.

CASK TYPE: Moscatel Barriques.

NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 6000

STRENGTH: 46% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml

Time in traditional oak casks and Moscatel wine barriques has brought warm flavours of toasted citrus spices and sun-dried fruits, rounded off with a sweet, creamy finish.

Tomatin / 10 Year Old Single Cask.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highlands.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Tomatin.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Limited Edition Single Cask.

DISTILLED: June 2008

BOTTLED: June 2018

CASK TYPE: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon.

NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 250

STRENGTH: 59.3% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml

The first ever Tomatin UK exclusive bottling, a 2008 Single Cask, unique as there are no other bourbon-only matured whiskies in the range.

NOSE: Initial sweet oak intertwined with vanilla and floral aromas.

TASTE: The vanilla and floral theme continues with coconut and pineapple giving the whisky a surprising upsurge in flavour.

FINISH: Creamy vanilla and white chocolate with a hint of spice in the background.

Port Charlotte / Scottish Barley.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Bruichladdich.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

STRENGTH: 50% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml.

PEATED TO A HEAVYWEIGHT 40PPM, PORT CHARLOTTE SCOTTISH BARLEY IS A MULTI-VINTAGE CUVEE CRAFTED FROM CASKS HAND-PICKED BY HEAD DISTILLER ADAM HANNETT. THIS REMARKABLE SINGLE MALT, ORIGINALLY CREATED BY THE LEGENDARY DISTILLER JIM MCEWAN, REPRESENTS A UNION BETWEEN THE CLASSIC FLORAL ELEGANCE OF BRUICHLADDICH AND HEAVY PEAT.

This whisky is testament to our belief that provenance matters. Trickle distilled from 100% Scottish Barley the spirit gently matures in our lochside warehouses before being bottled here at the distillery using Islay spring water.

CHARACTER: The texture is extraordinarily rich with a huge depth of character. The smouldering heat of peat fires pulls you into a whirlpool of islay flavours and aromas but with such finesse that you welcome the storm.

COLOUR: Gilded lily.

NOSE: Opening with assertive waves of peat smoke and Atlantic squall, the olfactory system is on high alert in anticipation of some major sensory excitement. A swell of aromatics flood the senses with notes of iodine, salty canvas, crushed sea shells, charred oak staves, black pepper, paprika and leather tobacco pouches. The second wave brings vanilla, figs and soft plump dates, marinated pear, freshly milled malt, dark sweet toffee and cracked walnuts. It’s smoky. It’s smouldering. It’s sensuous. Just close your eyes and inhale long and deep. This is aromatic awesomeness.

PALATE: Wow! Waves of the sweetest, smoothest, warmest smokiest spirit that you have ever experienced flood onto the palate like the atlantic surf on Saligo Bay. It is potent, focused and the flavours explode brilliantly onto the palate. Full of depth and complexity, the smokey sweetness of the barley contrasts beautifully with the marine freshness of the spirit and the richness of toffee and vanilla. The complexity is enhanced further with a citrus twist and then mellow oak tempers the fire. Once the taste buds adjust to what is happening, they rejoice in the company and pleasure of this young Celt.

FINISH: It’s long and heart-warming, arousing feelings of pride and passion. It brings courage and strength, honesty and faith to your very soul.

MOOD: It cries “freedom”. You are in a good place and you envy no man. You feel alive and ready for whatever lies ahead, knowing that the true spirit of Islay is with you.

Port Charlotte / 2011 Islay Barley.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Bruichladdich.

BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling.

BOTTLING SERIE: Heavily Peated.

BOTTLED: 2018

STATED AGE: 11 years old.

STRENGTH: 50% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE RAYMOND STEWART FIRST PLANTED MALTING BARLEY FOR US IN 2004. AN EXTRAORDINARY 17 FARMERS HAVE NOW COMMITTED TO GROW EXCLUSIVELY FOR US ON ISLAY, WITH ONE THIRD OF OUR ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS NOW SOURCED HERE.

This Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011 is the second heavily-peated release from our uber-provenance single malt series. Harvested in the summer of 2010, our barley was raised on three Islay farms, by Raymond Fletcher, Neil McLellan and Raymond Stewart. The resulting rich and aromatic whisky expertly balances the power of peat with the elegance and finesse of our trickle distilled spirit. It is the ultimate embodiment of our commitment to authenticity, transparency and traceability.

NOSE: A whirlwind of vibrant aromas burst from the glass, an earthy tarred peat smoke announces this is Port Charlotte. lemon, peach and green grapes come from the spirit. Vanilla pods, creamed coconut and chocolate speak of the American oak maturation. The combinations of aromas intertwine and jostle for attention. some time to open allows notes of lemon drizzle cake, white chocolate and peach yoghurt to rise wrapped in a velvet blanket of light smoke.

PALATE: Hints of salt reinforce the coastal feel. Dry smoke, salted caramel and apple sauce. Then lemon drops, boiled sweets and ground white pepper. The smoke is light on the palate, tar and charcoal rather than medicinal phenols. Towards the finish and the light gentle spirit has an edge of floral sea breeze, marine and refreshing. The sweetness of the oak and the barley are matched beautifully by the dry peat smoke. Islay grown, the barley seems more distinct and brings through the peach and apple typical of our spirit.

FINISH: Tar and brine, peat smoke and salt, coconut and tobacco. Close your eyes and the smoke takes you to an Islay beach with a driftwood bonfire.

CHARACTER: The sweet/smoke combination is the defining theme on the palate. A dram for summer nights. Driftwood bonfires, the sand between your toes and some good company.

Miltonduff / 10 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Range.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside.

CATEGORY: Single Malt.

DISTILLERY: Miltonduff.

BOTTLER: Gordon & MacPhail (GM).

BOTTLING SERIE: Discovery.

BOTTLED: 2018

STATED AGE: 10 years old.

CASK TYPE: Sherry.

STRENGTH: 43% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml.

AROMA: Chocolate and sticky orange marmalade transforms into juicy plump stewed raisins and sweet baked apple, freshly cut grass notes delicately balance the rich sherry influences.

TASTE: Sweet and spicy: comforting butter candies weave with roasted hazelnut followed closely by orange zest, cinnamon, and mouth-warming pepper maturing into plum and fig jam.

FINISH: Long with highlights of chocolate and stewed fruit finishing with lingering winter spices.

Compass Box / Asyla.

Summary: 

COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/.

CATEGORY: Blend.

BOTTLER: Compass Box (CB).

STRENGTH: 40% Vol.

SIZE: 700 ml.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: Sweet, delicate and very smooth on the palate, with flavours of vanilla-cream, cereals and a subtle apple like fruit character.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Ideal as an aperitif served in a white wine or similar glass with chilled water to taste. Try before a meal with shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano.

DISTILLERY SOURCING: Single malts from the towns of Alness and Longmorn, single grain whisky from Fife.

WOOD: 100% first-fill American oak ex-Bourbon.

THE SECRET IS IN THE OAK: The secret to making Asyla is the quality of the casks. We use only whiskies aged in first-fill American oak casks because these yield whiskies with more vanilla character, more richness and more sweetness than Refill casks. Asyla is made with 50% malt whisky. There are few blended Scotches that use as high a malt content as we do at Compass Box. The result is a carefully crafted, elegant blended Scotch whisky that makes the perfect aperitif.

THE SIGNATURE RANGE FROM COMPASS BOX: Asyla is part of the Signature Range from Compass Box. The five Scotch whiskies in this range cover the entire spectrum of Scotch whisky styles, from the delicate, sweet character of Asyla, to the subtle vanilla, clove and fruity characteristics of Oak Cross, the rich and spice notes of The Spice Tree, the peatysmoky character of The Peat Monster and the elegant flavours of vanilla cream, toffee and coconut in Hedonism. Each is made from the highest quality casks, to create more complexity. The whiskies are combined according to each recipe and returned to casks for marrying up to 24 months before bottling.

Steps like these enhance complexity, flavour integration and soft mouthfeel. Extra steps, but we think they’re worth it.

*Update (June 2018) from Compass Box:

We regret to inform you that when our current case inventories are gone, Asyla will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

The demand for Asyla is such that we have run out of stock of the appropriate age range of the key single malts for this recipe. We have these single malts in our maturing stock, but they will not reach the appropriate maturity we need for the Asyla recipe for several more years.

We are searching the market in Scotland for appropriately mature stocks of these malts. If we find even a small parcel, we will consider making an Asyla limited edition. Long-term, we hope to bring back Asyla permanently when our current stocks come to maturity.

We will keep you posted. Thank you for your understanding.