Scottish Whisky : Scotch

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.

Distilled back in June 2007 and left to mature in a single refill hogshead for the following 12 years. When April 2020 came about, the single malt was independently bottled for Douglas Laing's Old Particular range.

On the nose there is aromas of barley with sweet cereals, puff candy and lashings of chantilly cream.

Spicey ginger and cinnamon on the palate, with toasted barley, mixed nuts and orange peel.

More spice on the finish, with dry oak, coconut and heather.

A 12-year-old Aultmore from Douglas Laing's Old Particular range. Distilled in July 2006 and bottled in September 2018 from a single refill hogshead REF - DL2732 at 12 years old. It's a crisp and fruity Aultmore, with orchard and citrus fruit backed up by spice.

Nose: Sweet  fresh barley with green apples, vanilla and coconut.

Palate: Fresh Spanish oranges, gentle and light spice with a toasted Malt quality.

Finish: Medium-long with more spices, plus orange zest with a perfectly dry finish (CGL).

Tamdhu's new 'Distinction' celebrates the influence of the distillery's use of American Oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The wood (Quercus Alba) used in these barrels offer the flavour of vanilla pudding, dates and chocolate, with a mouth-coating fruit-syrup quality. Cherries and subtle citrus notes cut through on the nose, while the palate and fish are dense and full, with the oak having a final say in spices and chocolate again to finish.

A fabulous Tamdhu, matured exclusively in a combination of first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks for 12 years. Sherried Speyside whisky is always a winner, with oodles of fruit and spice. Check out that handsome retro bottle, too. Stunning stuff.

Nose: Orange Starburst, cinnamon swirls and toasted oak, along with some mint chocolate.

Palate: Lots of plum, juicy raisin, fried banana, raspberry jam doughnuts and oak spice.

Finish: Chocolate fudge and just a whisper of smoke, with sweet cinnamon returning.

Tamdhu is well-known and much-adored for its excellent use of sherry casks, and those of you with a penchant for single malt with heavy sherry influence will be delighted to know that the distillery's 15 Year Old expression continues that theme. This one has spent is maturation in oloroso sherry casks, resulting in generous helpings of dark fruit and Christmas spice.

Nose: Charred pineapple, earthy barley and a hearty slice of dense fruitcake, then some toasty oak warmth, orange zest and fennel.

Palate: Still packing heavy dried fruit notes, with a hint of orange oil and dried apricots cutting through. Earthy vanilla appears later on with touches of cedar, leather and cinnamon.

Finish: Warm and sweet, with waxy peels, clove, chocolate ice-cream and oily walnut.

Batch No. 007 of Tamdhu Batch Strength single malt is a fruity, nutty whisky that has been matured exclusively in sherry casks. Aromas of cinnamon, oak, vanilla sponge and praline fill the nose, complemented by notes of baked figs, baking spices, pavlova, raspberries, caramelised apricots, oak and ripe clementines throughout the palate.

The Batch Strength releases encapsulate Tamdhu's unwavering commitment to crafting exclusively sherry-matured whisky, presenting a captivating deep natural copper hue and a complex flavour profile. With each Oloroso sherry cask carefully hand-selected, this expression delivers an exquisite and nuanced flavour, leaving a memorable and gratifying finish that embodies the essence of Speyside

A gorgeous copper glow and a magnificent taste. On the nose, dark, nutty layers of Spanish oak make way for the enticing scent of creamy vanilla and melting honeycomb. The first sip transports drinkers to a summer orchard, where sharp berries dance alongside sweet, candied lemon peel. The experience is completed with the long and elegant Tamdhu signature sherry oak finish, with hints of figs lingering on the palate

Tamnavulin Double Cask was the first release from the distillery since the 1990s! Over the past 20 or so years, the distillery changed hands from Invergordon Distillers to Whyte & MacKay, closed a few years later and reopened in 2007. Much of its single malt output is used in blends, but a few casks of single malt would sneak out as indie bottlings to allow us a rare taste of Tamnavulin - but now they've got their very own expression! They initially mature it in American oak barrels before treating them to a finishing period in Sherry casks.

Nose: Chocolate mousse, extra thick double cream with a dusting of brown sugar, stewed apples and blackberries.

Palate: Christmas pudding, chocolate brownies, yellow plum and toffee-coated barley.

Finish: Spiced rum sweetness lingers on the finish.

A fruity, floral Tamnavulin single malt that has been matured in Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks, creating layers of orchard fruit, lime blossom, marmalade, cinnamon, poached pear and almond on the nose, complemented by notes of nectarines, damson plums, gingerbread, red berries and ripe bananas throughout the palate.

40% ABV