New Arrivals
 Aultmore 2011 9YO Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks Parcel No 4 £52.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 24.5% Summary: From Elixir Distillers Single Malts of Scotland range, Reserve Casks, this is Parcel No 4. 6 Casks. 24.5% angels share. Distilled 2011. Bottled 2020. Selected by Oliver Chilton. Distilled at Aultmore Distillery, bottled by Elixir Distillers |
Bruichladdich Black Art 8 £279.00 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 45.1% Summary: Decades have passed since this unpeated spirit ran from the stills in their ethereal, Victorian stillhouse. The stillmen who were present in 1994 would have no concept of its destiny; that it would eventually become the eighth iteration of the notorious Bruichladdich Black Art. This spirit would take many weaving journeys within their loch-side warehouses. Each cask it met has been identified and nurtured over time under the tenureship of their Head Distiller. All with one ultimate purpose in mind. Few responsibilities are as daunting as the composition of this cuvee. Lesser distillers would be unwilling to release their finest casks completely unaccounted for, totally in secret. And yet, those in the know of their alchemic release, are fully trusting in the hands of Adam. Over eight releases now, this unaccountability has been justified. ” Eighth in limited edition series ” Adam™s fourth Black Art release ” 1994 vintage ” 26 years old ” Un-peated Islay single malt scotch whisky ” Cask type ” only Adam knows ” Cask strength of 45.1% alc./vol. ” 12,000 individually numbered bottles ” Matured entirely on Islay ” Non chill filtered ” Colouring free Tasting Notes: Colour ” Hazel, rich copper. Nose ” The complexity of flavours combining on the nose makes this a joy to try and decipher. Initially a Citrus, lime zest, fresh orange style is met with a rich caramel and oaky notes of dried apricot, pipe tobacco, maple syrup. Oak shavings and toasted hazelnuts. Vanilla syrup. Leather and poached pears with honey and apricot jam coming through as the complexity opens up and the Floral nature of our spirit shows its hand with rose and geranium and after a little time a hint of wild thyme on the breeze. The balance between the spirit and the oak is beautiful, with the oak nurturing the delicate nature of the spirit. That is the hallmark of this edition of Black Art. Taste ” That citrus style, lemon zest and then the sweetness from the oak meets the palate beautifully. The texture is like warm honey, and brings notes of maple syrup, walnut, toasted oak and coconut. That delicate sweetness floods the palate with vanilla, dried apricot, caramel and millionaires shortbread. The light creamy texture and palate is so soft and gentle but packed with depth and as we draw towards the finish the delicate Bruichladdich DNA of soft stoned fruit comes to the fore. Finish ” The finish is gentle, sweet caramel, dried fruit, sultana, lemon drizzle cake. Hazel nuts, milk chocolate. It™s softness is calming. Character ” This Black Art edition stands alone when compared to its brothers. The style is much more about the DNA of the spirit and how the casks will highlight that soft fruit style and zesty character. A lighter Black Art created to explore an idea rather than fit a mould. |
Bruichladdich Octomore 10YO 4th Edition, 54.3% £154.90 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 54.3% Summary: Sitting alongside its 11s series counterparts, this Ten Year Old brings a subtler, more mature dimension to the otherwise youthful exuberance of the .1, .2 and .3 spirits. While they deliberately keep the barley influence forward in the .1 and .3 editions, their .2 and Ten Year Old editions introduce cask influence at varying ends of the Octomore age spectrum. While the malt for their Octomore Ten Year Old is initially higher in PPM, the influence of those 5 extra years results in a calmer, deeper spirit. – Malted to 208 PPM – Distilled in 2009 from the 2008 harvest of 100% Scottish grown Optic barley – Matured in a combination of Virgin Oak & first and second fill ex-American whiskey casks from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Jack Daniels – Matured entirely on Islay for ten aged years – Bottled unchill-filtered and colouring free at Bruichladdich Distillery, 54.3% alc. / vol – Limited to 12,000 bottles Tasting Notes: CHARACTER ” Grown up Octomore, relaxed and refined, with age we lose some of the vitality but develop a sense of calm and deep complexity. AROMA ” Wonderful Bouquet of Peat and fruit. Nectarine and citrus fruits with hints of pineapple and mango, a depth of rich sweetness and complexity. Vanilla and oak sugar, nutty and vibrant. With age the fruit comes through so well, and the depth of flavour is wonderful, more exotic fruits and that citrus and minerality character which is the DNA of our spirit. TASTE ” Wonderful salty tang on the lips, leading into a viscous and honey like texture. Beautiful fruit notes and sweet oak make this a joy to hold on the palate, the peach, ripe pineapple and mango, dried apricot and peach notes are beautifully weighed against the smoke and oak, the extra age and combination of casks bring a level of maturity to this expression of Octomore that gives a new dimension to our understanding of this exceptional single malt FINISH ” Oak driven, coconut, tobacco, vanilla, then smoke. The time in the cask has calmed the smoke, both through the phenols lowering naturally over time and the influence of the oak becoming greater. COLOUR ” Gold. |
Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1 £119.90 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 100% Summary: Exposing the structural brilliance of their pure, unadulterated Octomore super heavily peated spirit, our 11.1 edition is powerful, understated and vibrant. Underpinned with a delicate balance of smoke and sweet vanilla from the ex-American oak casks, this single malt has spent just 5 years in contact with fresh first fill wood. The presence of peat on the palate is huge, and yet is incredibly balanced with clean fruit and floral notes. Distilled in 2014 from the 2013 harvest of 100% Scottish barley then filled into active ex-American oak, this high provenance, high peat single malt is a fitting embodiment of how quality ingredients demand less time to reach maturity. – Malted to 139.6 PPM – Distilled in 2014 from the 2013 harvest of 100% Scottish grown Concerto and Propino barley – Full term maturation in first fill American whiskey casks from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill and Jack Daniels – Matured entirely on Islay for five years – Bottled unchill-filtered and colouring free at Bruichladdich Distillery, 59.4% alc. / vol – Limited to 30,000 bottles Tasting Notes: CHARACTER ” Lithe, sleek with intense earthy peat notes, balanced by the presence malt sugar, vanilla and oak. The scents of Islay in a glass ” the ozone fragrance of the sea, bog myrtle from the moss and peat smoke in the cold night air and at the heart of it all a warmth that brings harmony to the whole. AROMA ” Initial notes of Lemon, wet peat, pencil shavings, and a salty minerality. Peach yoghurt, cinder toffee, rubbery smokey almost antiseptic notes come from the peat smoke, well balanced with the green fruit and malty notes coming through the spirit. Honey, malt sugar, dried grass, come through with time with a little hint of ginger and wood spice. TASTE ” Brown sugar sweetness hits the palate initially. The chilli heat of high strength carries the Octomore DNA across the palate, it is clean, supple in texture and has a complex combination of flavours rushing for attention. Another taste and stone fruit, apricot, that peach yoghurt come to the fore and then the cask influence appears with sweet vanilla, toasted oak, brown sugar and soft toffee. The maritime notes, the minerality and citrus all weave the Bruichladdich DNA through the flavour profile bonding the sense of place and identity in this dram. FINISH ” Malt, huge Peat notes, earthy and oily, tar and bonfires. Vanilla honey, ginger spice and syrupy sweetness. COLOUR ” Lemon. |
Bruichladdich Octomore 11.3 £168.90 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 100% Summary: Comparing Octomore 11.1 and 11.3 gives one of their finest lessons in stratospheric smoke and barley terroir. While both editions are malted to a Brobdingnagian 100+PPM reading, the differences in barley character from the respective growing region is ever present. Their Octomore Islay barley is grown each year by friend and farmer James Brown, on Octomore farm itself. It is harvested, malted and distilled separately, even from their other Islay barley harvests, in order to become a single field, single vintage single malt. – Malted to 194 PPM – Distilled in 2014 from the 2013 harvest of 100% Octomore Farm grown Concerto barley – Full term maturation in first fill American whiskey casks from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace and Jack Daniels – Matured entirely on Islay for five years – Bottled unchill-filtered and colouring free at Bruichladdich Distillery, 61.7% alc. / vol – Limited to 18,000 bottles Tasting notes: CHARACTER ” Such a distinct expression of Octomore, so much of the flavour comes from the malted barley and the distillation. The distillation techniques allow us to slowly coax the flavours from the grain influenced so much by the location it is grown and truly express a unique flavour based on these fundamentals. AROMA ” Eight floral character on the nose, Summery and bright. The peat smoke is slow to rise initially but comes through with a light touch, clean and dry and very much in the background. Lovely light floral notes and sweet citrus, with honey and vanilla really holding everything together. TASTE ” Texturally this dram has a fantastic presence on the palate, holding the high strength perfectly. A gentle sweetness, honey and fruit syrup arrive, orange blossom, apricot jam and again the floral bouquet all gentle soft notes are holding off the phenols, a testament to the distillation techniques to allow the character of our spirit to come through with being dominated by the high level of phenols. FINISH ” Naturally the phenolic presence comes through on the finish, the floral notes fade and the dry smoke, earthy with dry grass come through. Burnt heather, toffee and malt sugar all play a part in a complex long finish. COLOUR ” Barley straw. |
Dalmore 2005 14 Year Old Connoisseurs Choise Cask #16600211 57.6% £92.90 Country: Scotland Region: Highland Age: Strength: 57.6% Summary: This release is from Dalmore Distillery. Coming in the Cask Strength range of Connoisseurs Choice. Distilled: 2005 Bottled: 16th September 2020 Batch number: 20/098 Cask number: 16600211 Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Barrel Aged for 14 Years One of only 255 bottles Notes: Citrus zest gives way to sweet tropical fruit with a hint of mixed nuts. Marshmallow flavours complement dried banana and subtle milk chocolate. A medium-bodied finish with lingering toasted almonds. Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail |
Elements of Islay Bn8 (Bunnahabhain) £44.50 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: Summary: A marriage of casks of peated spirit distilled between 2013 and 2015, and aged from five to seven years in a combination of American oak and ex-sherry hogsheads, our eighth bottling of Bunnahabhain boasts fruity, savoury and peppery notes with a hint of bitter chocolate. 1896 bottles produced. Core Flavour: Peppery, fruity, homemade confectionery Cask details: American oak and ex-sherry hogsheads Tasting notes: Nose: Dark orange chocolate, under-sugared peach jam and shredded lemon verbena. Rounded out by nutty, mature cheddar. Palate: Smoked paprika and cumin spice marries with tart sweetness: apple drops and slightly burnt pear upside-down-cake. More pepperiness with crunchy ginger-nut biscuits and a drop of star anise oil. Finish: Weathered leather, raw cacao nibs and the prickle of Pimento pepper, toned down with Danish butter cookies. |
Linkwood 2009 10YO Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks Parcel No 4 £55.00 Country: Scotland Region: Speyside Age: Strength: 27.2% Summary: From Elixir Distillers Single Malts of Scotland range, Reserve Casks, this is Parcel No 4. 7 Casks. 27.2% angels share. Distilled 2009. Bottled 2020. Selected by Oliver Chilton. Distilled at Linkwood Distillery, bottled by Elixir Distillers |
