New Arrivals
![]() Benriach / 8 Year Old SMWS Effective Winter Warmer. £85.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 61.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Benriach. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Effective Winter Warmer. DISTILLED: 2009 AGE: 8 Year Old. CASK TYPE: First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 12.11 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 222 ABV: 61.2% Vol. An initial blast of sweetness greets the nose – banana bread, Madeleines, flapjacks and fudge – then a note of orange pomanders and Christmas spice, before we enter the dusty woody world of a Narnia wardrobe. The palate is a total mouth experience, flooding the senses with youthful intensity and immediacy – orange peel, clove and coltsfoot rock. The reduced nose is a warming winter hearth, pine tree freshness, citrus, gentle spice and eggnog – all seasonal comfort and cheer. The palate now combines numbing nutmeg, cinnamon-spiced pastries and sweet lebkuchen – very attractive, very drinkable and full of seasonal charm – a truly effective winter warmer. |
![]() Cameronbridge / 28 Year Old SMWS Exquisite Whisky Dessert. £180.00 Country: Scotland Region: ScotclandLowland Age: Strength: 54.4%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotcland/Lowland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Cameronbridge. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Down the old fruit mines. DISTILLED: 1989 BOTTLED: 2018 AGE: 28 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 4.17 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 66 ABV: 54.4% Vol. The nose is immediately attractive – sweet, mellow and yellow – banana toffee, dulce de leche, Caramac, custard trifle, honey, popcorn and profiteroles, with spring flowers, harvested fields of ripe grain and gentle intimations of wood. The palate is an exquisite whisky dessert of Black Forest gateau, panettone amaretto, Ben & Jerry’s salted caramel ice-cream and Toffifees, with a surprisingly restrained echo of wood and spice tingling the finish. Water is completely unnecessary, but adding it brings out ‘after the rain’ scented new linen, Christmas cinnamon, Daim Bars and cookie dough. The palate gets caramel wafer, butterscotch and sweet extract of oak – utterly amazing. |
![]() Glendronach / 10 Year Old SMWS Frisky Fun. £95.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 57.6%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glendronach .BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Down the old fruit mines. DISTILLED: 2006 AGE: 10 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 96.11 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 210 ABV: 57.6% Vol. Plenty of ‘suckie sweets’ on the nose neat; caramel candy, chalky fizzy lemon sherbet, sugar coated gummy bears and toffee chews loaded with coconut, almonds and brown sugar. The taste initially a chilli heat moving swiftly on to menthol cooling iced peppermint tea and in the finish fresh strawberries with mint whipped cream. Water released a deeper sweetness of honey and nut cluster muesli, white chocolate cheesecake and a mild white pepper powder. On the palate now gingerbread pudding with salted caramel sauce as well as tropical fruit salad in a mint and passion fruit syrup making this a mouth-watering experience. |
![]() Glengoyne / 9 Year Old Jack-in-the-box. £95.00 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 61.8%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glengoyne. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. DISTILLED: 2008 AGE: 9 Year Old. CASK TYPE: First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 123.19 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 217 ABV: 61.8% Vol. Aromas of puff pastry apple turnovers, plum frangipane tart and chilled orange slices in rum-caramel syrup lead us down the garden path as the taste neat had plenty of heat in the form of cayenne pepper, dried crushed chillies and Tandoori spiced Nan bread with coriander and mint puree. Let’s add some water –the nose now offered a little spice to the original sweetness in the form of cinnamon swirls, Chai spiced carrot cake and sticky ginger lemon drizzle cake. Much more approachable on the palate reminding us of a coconut- key lime pie boozy milkshake garnished with nutmeg and orange zest. |
![]() Glenmorangie / 13 Year Old SMWS In Search of Serenity. £95.00 Country: Welsh Region: Welsh Age: Strength: 57.3%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Wales. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glenmorangie. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: In Search of Serenity. DISTILLED: 2004 AGE: 13 Year Old. CASK TYPE: First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 125.75 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 177 ABV: 57.3% Vol. Dry aromas of white Port develop into Armagnac, white chocolate, creamy vanilla and malted milk biscuits. Also, powdered ginger, hints of orange, dried flowers and coconut. At full strength, the palate is drying, fruity (mango, peach and orange), sweet (honey, vanilla and caramel) and spicy (old wood and menthol). Adding water brings out more heady aromas – floral, citrus, tobacco and more gentle spices. It is sweet with vanilla pods, pastries dusted with sugar, Scottish tablet, peaches and fresh laundry. This carries through to the taste. Fruit salad (lots of peaches) with vanilla, caramel and a subtle woody spice. |
![]() Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu) / 9 Year Old SMWS Lead us to Temptation. £97.50 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 58.6%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Loch Lomond (Rhosdhu). BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Lead us to Temptation. DISTILLED: 2008 AGE: 9 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: G15.1 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 268 ABV: 58.6% Vol. With a gentle introduction and mild manner we became acquainted with juicy mirabelle plums, fresh strawberries and sweet cherries. Cream covered banoffee pie guided the way towards richer notes of caramel, ground coffee and the sweet nuttiness of hazelnut spread. On encountering the palate we were delighted to find pink wafer biscuits, baked apple rings and dark chocolate with chilli but also fragrant violets and spicy ginger cake. A unity with water enhanced the floral feel with a definite deliverance of lavender and soft pear. The finish was sweet and juicy with the tingle of salted popcorn and the spicy prickle of Szechuan peppers. |
![]() Loch Lomond (Inchmoan) / 13 Year Old SMWS Paddle Steaming. £110.00 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 57.1%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Loch Lomond (Inchmoan). BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Paddle Steaming. DISTILLED: 2005 AGE: 13 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 135.11 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 309 ABV: 57.1% Vol. We felt like enjoying the beautiful scenery and admiring the most southerly Munro (mountain over 914 m height) in Scotland from a Clyde-built paddle steamer. The billowing smoke from the two funnels mixed with fresh air and the oiliness/grease of fish teas being prepared – it felt like taking a step back in time. On the palate we were inhaling smoke from a nearby heather fire on the shore as well as eating a packet of salt and vinegar crisps. With water we opened a well-used leather rucksack on deck and got out smoky salted maple nuts which we’d earlier roasted in peat smoked Hebridean sea salt. |
![]() Loch Lomond (Inchmoan) / 16 Year Old SMWS Sensual Sensory Sensation. £105.00 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 53.8%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Loch Lomond (Inchmoan). BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Sensual Sensory Sensation. DISTILLED: 2001 AGE: 16 Year Old. CASK TYPE: First Fill Ex-Sauternes Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 135.1 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 285 ABV: 53.8% Vol. An amazing red henna colour immediately attracted our attention and the gentle scent of sweet orange pure essential oil, perfumed leather and ripe strawberries dipped in powdered sugar made this a real sensual sensory sensation. The palate followed on with a Moroccan tagine of sweet apricots, sticky honey and tangy lemon. Water released aromas of a strawberry smoothie, new soft leather and chocolate covered macadamia nuts and the taste rounded it off perfectly, dark marc de Champagne truffles with an old fashioned Boulevardier cocktail. After fifteen years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky directly into a 1st fill Sauternes cask for the remainder of its maturation. |
![]() Laphroig / 19 Year Old SMWS Harmonious Balance. £185.00 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 55.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Laphroig. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Harmonious Balance. DISTILLED: 1998 AGE: 19 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 29.229 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 234 ABV: 55.2% Vol. Imaging waking up, looking out the tent door pitched on the beach and seeing a glorious sunrise over the sea. We then made breakfast on a driftwood campfire by toasting bread and having it with salted butter and thick set honey. To taste, cigar smoke sweetness at the start, ashy with a hint of tar in the mid palate and a slightly herbal/peppermint finish – all in perfect balance and harmony. When we reluctantly added a drop of water the sun continued getting higher in the sky and the scent of fresh salty sea air made us feel ready for whatever the day had in store for us. |
![]() Benrinnes / 17 Year Old SMWS Caramel, Coconut and Cinnamon Popcorn. £90.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 57.3%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Benrinnes. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Caramel, Coconut and Cinnamon Popcorn. DISTILLED: 2000 AGE: 17 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Second Fill Heavy Toast Medium Char Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 36.139 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 282 ABV: 57.3% Vol. The nose neat was all over the place, dusty hay bales, fruit flavoured candy powder and white chocolate cheesecake, finally settling with a bubbly peach Bellini cocktail. The taste neat was like sticky chewy gingerbread toffee, apple wood spice and cardamom panna cotta with honeyed figs. Water released a floral, woody and slightly fresh earthy aroma whilst on the palate now a mix of exotic flavours and spices like caramel, coconut and cinnamon popcorn. After 16 years in an ex-bourbon refill hogshead, we transferred this whisky directly into a 2nd fill custom made hogshead for the remainder of its maturation. |
![]() Caperdonach / 26 Year Old SMWS Princes Street Gardens in Summer. £480.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 51.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Caperdonach. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Princes Street Gardens in Summers. DISTILLED: 1992 AGE: 26 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. CASK NUMBER: 38.24 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 270 ABV: 51.2% Vol. The nose takes you to Princes Street Gardens in the summer – grass, roses, flower beds, ice-cream vans and pastry wagons laden with donuts, Danishes and churros; also perfumed sweets (sherbet straws, blackcurrant, lemon, apple). The palate is delicious – tropical fruits (custard apple, monstera, Charentais melon), vanilla slices and dark chocolate digestive biscuits – all balanced by subtle back-tastes of wood and clean leather. The reduced nose is even fresher, with a dominant flavour of perfumed pear. The palate has that je ne sais quoi of age – oak, putty, Gewurtztraminer and Hoegaarden against the marshmallow, coconut, cocoa and biscuit of luxury Rocky Road. |
![]() Glen Grant / 21 Year Old SMWS Graceful Gravitas. £157.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 60.6%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glen Grant. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Graceful Gravitas. DISTILLED: 1996 AGE: 21 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 9.143 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 258 ABV: 60.6% Vol. Polite yet meaningful with a dignified demeanour and we realised immediately that we were in the company of a true gentleman of a dram. Aromas of sweet earthy tobacco, crab samosas with passion fruit chutney, Manuka honey and late-harvest orange Muscat demanded our full attention. Full bodied on the palate with layer upon layer of deep dark fruits waiting to be discovered or like a triple chocolate caramel ombre cake. When adding a drop of water initially the balanced delicate sweetness of an ice wine followed by a chocolate orange avocado pudding and on the palate white chocolate panacotta with vinegar-infused raspberries. |
![]() Glenburgie / 17 Year Old SMWS Curious and Intriguing. £110.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 57.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glenburgie. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Curious and Intriguing. DISTILLED: 1998 BOTTLED: 2018 AGE: 17 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Refill Ex-Sherry Gorda. CASK NUMBER: 71.41 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 720 ABV: 57.2% Vol. A curious and intriguing nose – we found spiced toffee apples, roasted chestnuts, figs, fudge and old wood (cigarette boxes?); a mixture of treacle and Olbas Oil, some rich sherry and a matchbox. The neat taste had tongue-numbing menthol and eucalyptus and made us think of figs, sherry, burnt toffee, honey-roast parsnips and beetroot crisps; old tea chests and erasers. The reduced nose got dried flowers on a lavender polished table, old leather chests, hazelnuts and menthol cigarettes. The reduced palate had pleasant woodiness, some acceptable earthiness (roasted sweet potato, walnuts, hay) and candy floss sweetness (including chewing the stick). |
![]() Royal Brackla / 19 Year Old SMWS Gooey Goodness. £145.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 56.5%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Royal Brackla. BOTTLER: Scotch Malt Whisky Society. BOTTLING SERIE: Gooey Goodness. DISTILLED: 1997 AGE: 19 Year Old. CASK TYPE: First Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead. CASK NUMBER: 55.48 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 270 ABV: 56.5% Vol. Stunning colour –deep orange brown, like maple leaves in glorious autumn sunshine! The nose had plenty of goodness, sticky toffee pudding, prunes and dates as well as salted chocolate pistachio brittle. On the palate neat spiced apple cake with brown sugar brandy sauce accompanied by mulled wine with cinnamon, dried orange peel, allspice and cloves. With water, aromas of rum and raisin chocolate brownies and raspberry almond fudge cake whilst to taste, sweet and sour black cherries with a dry, slightly bitter, yet very smooth finish. After 18 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky directly into a 1st fill PX hogshead. |
![]() Balblair / Gordon & MacPhail 12 Year Old Discovery Edition. £49.50 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 43%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Highland. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Balblair. BOTTLER: Gordon & MacPhail. BOTTLING SERIE: Discovery Label. BOTTLED: 2018 AGE: 12 Year Old. CASK TYPE: Bourbon. ABV: 43% Vol. NOSE: Ripe pear and stewed rhubarb steeped in honey and decadent raspberry jam mature into sweet meadow grasses complemented by underlying fresh lemon and lime edge. TASTE: Balanced, crisp green apple wrapped in salted dark chocolate accompanied by hints of peaches and cream and gentle menthol nuances. FINISH: Light aniseed and warming white pepper develop on the finish whilst highlights of fresh lemon zest adds depth. |
![]() Glenrothes / 12 Year Old Chairman's Choice Old Particular. £110.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 63.4%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Speyside. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Glenrothes. BOTTLER: Douglas Laing. BOTTLING SERIE: Old Particular – The Chairman's Choice. DISTILLED: 2006 BOTTLED: 2019 AGE: 12 Years Old. CASK TYPE: Sherry Butt. BOTTLED FOR: UK Emporium. ABV: 63.4% Vol. The deliciously dark colour reflects the Sherry maturation while the nose brings a burnt brown sugar sweetness with allspice and sticky figs. The palate shows a damp leather quality with black cherries, treacle, golden syrup and Malted barley. The long finish reveals dark stewed fruits, nutmeg and cocoa. |
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