Scottish Whisky : Scotch

A very easy drinking single malt Scotch whisky from the Speyburn distillery, situated right on the river Spey. An excellent value dram with flavours of creamy toffee, citrus (particularly oranges, marmalade), delicate floral notes and a drying finish with a wee whiff of smoke in the background. A lovely and easy-to-drink malt from the heart of whisky in Scotland.

The Speyside distillery is one of the most southerly in the 'Speyside triangle', located near the town of Kingussie. Distilled back in 1998, this bottling represents a relatively early effort as production only commenced in 1990 (33 years after the initial building plans were submitted!) According to the Laings, anticipate tangerines on the nose with butter pastry and lots of toasted almonds followed by zesty citrus fruits at the finish. Drawn from a refill sherry butt (DL13295) with an outturn of 256 bottles. 61.3% Alc.Vol. Non chill filtered.

A rare bottling from the now discontinued, and beautifully packaged, Flora and Fauna range. This 12 year old was distilled at the Speyside based Strathmill distillery.

The nose is quite soft yet very fruity. A hint of grassy greenness with a nuttiness, there are notes of cut herbs and apples, hints of cut hay. The palate is silken smooth in delivery. Notes of winter spice and vanilla custard, there is a nutty oiliness which carries everything gentle. The finish is soft and slightly herbal with a peppered delivery.

The set up at Talisker produces a highly individual new make which mixes smoke, fruit, sulphur, salt and pepper. The malt is medium-peated, the worts clear and the fermentation long, but distillation is atypical with minimal copper contact, plenty of reflux and the use of worm tubs. The result is a heavier style of malt which lends itself nicely to a coastal influence and a smoky peat that is definitely there, but not too heavy.

Nose: A fresh and fragrant nose. Through pungent smoke comes sweet pear and apple peels, with pinches of maritime salt from kippers, seaweed.

Palate: It's a bonfire of peat crackling with black pepper, with a touch of brine and dry barley. A welcome delivery of orchard fruit provides a delicate and beautiful balance.

Finish: In a long finish, bonfire embers toast malt and crystallise a sugary underlay.

The 2022 Diageo Special & Rare collection is known as "Elusive Expressions", drawn from some of Scotland?s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson. They portray the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables. This year each bottle has its own unique QR code which, when scanned, takes you on a multi-sensory experience that tells you the story of the whisky and the mythical creature behind the artwork, whilst providing tasting notes to prompt your nose and palate along the way.

Talisker 11 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml (Special Release 2022) was matured in and blended from a mix of 1st-fill ex-bourbon casks, refill casks, and wine-seasoned casks.

The nose instantly transports you across to Skye, with the smell of bitumen on the road infusing into your nostrils, together with Talisker's signature iodine and medicinal notes. Briny maritime notes abound; there's sea spray in the air. The nose is complex, there are also hints of tobacco leaf and saddle leather. The palate is a bit softer, rounded, and grounded in the earthy peat. It possibly lacks for sweetness ? the wine casks have made it a bit drier and more savoury than the sweet and punchy 8yo Taliskers that featured in the 2020 and 2021 Special Releases.

55.1% ABV

Seven years older that Diageo's 2018 Special Releases Talisker, this is a big, sooty, earthy single malt, with lashings of ripe citrus and treacle sponge, and heaps of warming spice. Plenty of heft and darkness to be found here, alongside classic, coastal Talisker character for purists to revel in.

57.3% ABV

Talisker, one of the most remote distilleries in the world, is situated on the storm lashed Isle of Skye and has a colourful history dating back to 1830. Denounced by the local clergy, praised by none other than Robert Louis Stevenson and even suffering a still-room fire in 1960, Talisker has survived and today produces some of the smoothest and characterful malts in Scotland. The 30 Year Old is sweet and mild to begin, with some acidity and saltiness. Extraordinary flavour development then envelopes the palate that becomes dry and minerally with a mild dusting of ground white pepper.

45.8% ABV

This eight year old expression was aged in ex-pot still Caribbean rum casks - a first for the distillery. It's a big whisky served at 57.9% with smoke, fruit and the distillery's trademark peppery spice and meatiness all singing in harmony. Smoke, molasses and stewed tropical fruits on the nose align nicely with the palate leading to a feisty, spicy finish.

Talisker's Dark Storm is matured in heavily charred oak casks, imparting yet more smoke and spice to the already intensely smoky whisky. A fantastic release from the distillery on the Isle of Skye. 

45.8% Alc

It's the 2007 vintage Distillers Edition from Talisker. These expressions are allowed a finishing period in casks that previously held Amoroso sherry, which plays wonderfully with the distinctive coastal salinity of Talisker's single malt. This one was bottled in 2017 at 45.8% ABV.

Nose: Toffee, seaweed, a sharp hint of fresh citrus fruit, milky coffee.

Palate: Juicy pineapple and apple, balanced by a kick of sea spray. Some light vegetal hints of fresh thyme and basil.

Finish: Lingering smoke and dried fruit.

You can spend years waiting for a new release in Talisker's core range then two come along at once! Hot on the heels of Talisker Storm in early 2013 comes Talisker's Port Ruighe, pronounced 'Port Ree'.

This no age statement release is finished in Port wine casks, imparting a new dimension to this Isle of Skye single malt.

Nose: After a wave of initial sea spray, the nose becomes more complex with Crayola crayons, orange pith and a touch of white chocolate. Demerara and even sticking plaster emerge briefly along with plummy, umeshu notes.

Palate: Initial characteristic Talisker brine once again but much sweeter than usual. Thick and mouth coating like the Storm with chilli and a little chocolate orange. Increasingly smoky - much smokier than the nose suggests.

Finish: Milk chocolate becomes cocoa and oak with mocha notes and the faintest hint of that orange pith once again.

An easy-drinking Talisker, taking the distillery's classically rugged character and softening it out, while maintaining the smoky and sweet notes the distillery is known for. More approachable, but still definitely Talisker.

Produced at the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been made by the sea since 1830.

In fact, few single malts tell the story of their origin better. Its smell and taste instantly connect the drinker with the rugged coastal environment. Every sip is a taste of the Isle of Skye itself ? a powerhouse; challenging but adored, once discovered rarely left. Like a warm welcome from a wild sea. The intense character of Talisker comes from fresh water drawn directly from underground springs next to the distillery, two very distinctive wash stills and wooden worm tub condensers which, along with its unusual ABV of 45.8%, help set Talisker apart from other malts. Talisker Storm offers the drinker Talisker?s full maritime majesty, all unfettered elemental power and confidence.

Distilled on the Isle of Skye at Talisker distillery, this release was launched as an exclusive for the travel retail market. This expression was put down to mature in ex-bourbon casks for an undisclosed length of time before being bottled at a strength of 45.8% abv.

45.8% ABV

Douglas Laing's Old Particular range consists of individually selected malts from all over Scotland, produced to the highest quality standards. These malts are neither cold-filtered nor provided with colour additives and are unique with their single cask bottlings.

The Douglas Laing Tamdhu Old Particular Single Cask 16 Years Old is bottled at 48.4% after 16 years of maturation in a refill butt REF - DL14411.

Nose: Opens with orange chewy sweets, new leather, toasted oak and runny dark chocolate.

Taste: Juicy plums, sultanas, bbq'd bananas, jam doughnuts and fresh ginger spice.

Finish: Long with all of the above wrapped into sticky toffee pudding and whipped cream.