Scottish Whisky : Scotch

This single malt whisky was aged exclusively in red wine hogsheads from Rioja. This has added dark fruit and spiced elements to the classic peat smoke that Islay whisky is known for.  

Released in 2016, this is a small batch release of Finlaggan which is finished in sherry casks and bottled at 46% vol, for a ripe smoky flavour.

Tasting Notes: 

Nose: rich peat smoke, and big ripe fruits. Old leather and a hint of tobacco.

Palate: Thick chewy peat and rich fruity notes. make and sea salt. Oranges and dried fruits.

Finish: Long and warming. More smoke and fruit.

Glen Deveron is the name that the Macduff distillery uses for its official bottlings. 

The nose is brimming with orchard fruits and cereal leading to a palate of green apple and subtle peat notes.

Distilled in 2008 at Glen Elgin distillery, this 10-year-old Speyside single malt was bottled in December 2018 by indie bottler Mossburn, and is the 19th whisky in its Vintage Casks series. Matured in a single cask, it has a sweet and spicy character, with notes of black pepper, caramel and oak spice.

59% ABV

A characteristic heather-honey on the nose leads on to a pleasant malty palate, but never too rich. Sweet to start, then fruity, Glen Elgin whisky is a typical Speyside – complex, fragrant, with a delicious orange blossom finish.

The Glen Elgin 18 YO Special Release 2017 is a limited release of 5352 bottles. This is a special release in an unusual way - this is something of a yeast experiment. For this whisky the distillery used both the conventional cerevisiae yeast and the more unusual (in the whisky world) pombe yeast . Pombe is Swahili for beer, and this is a yeast known from East Africa.

The Glen Elgin 18 YO Special Release 2017 is a vatting of two batches. One part made using the pombe yeast and matured in ex-bodega sherry casks. The other part made using standard yeast and matured in refill European oak butts.

Nose: A deep and rich fruitiness is the first that greets my nose. It seems almost Japanese in style. Complex and clean. Apples, green and fresh on one hand and ripe and baked on the other. Freshly baked gourmet bread with a butter and floral honey spread.

Taste: Creamy, rich and most certainly full-bodied. A bit off-kilter but in a charming way. It could very well be the yeast used that has me confused and amused. Still very fruity, but not just apples now, I also get ripe banana and hints of honey melon and bitter oranges. Dry-ish.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Still fruity - which is not surprising. Creamy and rich all the way.

A fruity, creamy Glen Elgin here from Douglas Laing, distilled in April 2011. Into a single refill hogshead it went, where it stayed for the next eight years. In January 2020, it was bottled for the Provenance series, with a release of just 359 bottles.

Distilled - April 2011

Bottled - January 2020

Refill Hogshead - REF - DL13789

Nose: Grassy & fresh .... green apples, barley sugar and caramelised nuts. 

Palate: An oak warmth initially then comes sherbet, meringue and clotted cream.

Finish: Long with runny honey and toffee balanced nicely by citrus peels (CSL).

This 12yo is a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, and like the other distillery bottlings since the revamp, has been bottled at a feisty 48%. A real charmer.

48% ABV l 700mL

Showcasing Glen Garioch's deliciously different house style following its reawakening in 1997,  this is the Third Chapter in a four-part story revealing the spirit's character at 17 years old - rich and honey-smooth with a citrus sweetness.

The 17 Year Old Highlander was matured in a combo of sherry and bourbon casks and shows off some deep chocolate and citrus notes that combine nicely with the distillery's spicy, waxy style.

Glen Garioch use virgin North American white oak casks for the entirety of the maturation for their Virgin Oak release. These US casks are preferable to European oak in some ways due to the lower tannin levels, plus the big vanillin component works exceptionally well with the malt.

This whisky is a big toffee, vanilla and chocolate number with spice and cloves to balance and leading to a long sweet finish.

Glen Grant 10 years old displays a bright golden colour with a sweet pear and vanilla bouquet. This elegant single malt dances on the palate with gentle notes of orchard fruits and butterscotch.  The finish is satisfyingly long and complex.

Glen Grant 10 years old displays a bright golden colour with a sweet pear and vanilla bouquet.  This elegant single malt dances on the palate with gentle notes of orchard fruits and butterscotch.  The finish is satisfyingly long and complex.

A classic expression of Glen Grant's style, this 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch shows pleasant notes of orchard fruit, almond and citrus accompanied by subtle notes of apple pie crust and caramel. The finish lingers with fruit and subtle hints of spice.

Matured in hand-selected first-fill ex-bourbon casks, an impactful flavour is further enhanced by non chill-filtration for a fuller texture. This golden liquid offers aromas of citrus fruit and toffee accompanied by a rich palate of spiced pear, apricot and vanilla, leaving a nutty finish with delicate notes of fruit.