Single Malt Whisky

From Diageo's 2020 Special Releases comes a cracking Cardhu single malt! This 11 year old expression was drawn from refill, new, and ex-bourbon American oak, resulting in a wonderfully honeyed flavour profile. Appropriately, continuing the Rare by Nature theme introduced in the 2019 Special Releases, the label features a rather handsome bee on it!

Nose: An orchard fruit-led delight, with oodles of crisp apple, pear and even some grapes coming through. Over time, the fruit turns a little more tropical, especially juicy pineapple and Galia melon. Rhubarb and custard boiled sweets, pencil shavings and a gentle cinnamon prickle add to the fruit.

Palate: Densely creamy and mouth-filling, with icing sugar adding to the fruit-forward palate. There's marmalade on toast, raisins and gentle white pepper in there, too.

Finish: Medium-long, with more of that pepper and cinnamon warmth cutting through.

Overall: A classic Speysider, and the perfect late-summer sipper.

The Cardhu 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky "The Scarlet Blossoms of Black Rock". As the fable goes, upon a hill of blackened rock grew a mysterious tree with scarlet blossoms of irresistible charm. Their sweet aroma of honeycomb and spice was so alluring, it transformed the dark hill into lush abundance. Where crimson petals had fallen, a distillery took root. The spellbinding scent filled the air, infusing Cardhu with its distinctively enchanting character.

In this golden malt, white grape and lychee aromas frolic with melodious fruits and meadow flowers. Composed in wine-seasoned wood, it has a heather-honeyed sweetness. Fragrantly, it charms with a creamy smooth texture and perfumed taste, enriched by lush red berries. Smoother still with water, the finish carries a warming pinch of white pepper. Like a single bloom, this Cardhu is remarkable to behold.

Bottled at cask strength from refill American oak casks and finished in red wine casks.

55.5% ABV

Cardhu Amber Rock is finished in American oak ex-bourbon casks, adding notes of vanilla and spice while retaining the brands trademark soft and easy-drinking style.

Cardhu is known for being an easy-drinking and sweeter style of whisky. Gold Reserve has been aged in toasted oak casks, which has led to notes of toffee apples.

40% ABV l 700mL

Its a fragrant and sweet whisky, with fresh cut grass and heather notes - not unlike a Glenkinchie (its stablemate). It's a little syrupy on the palate - carrying that sweetness theme through.

A superb crowd-pleasing whisky.

Cragganmore was founded in Ballindalloch, Speyside, in 1869 and was the first distillery to take advantage of the railway system for transportation, with its own railway siding on the Strathspey route. The distillery was designed by Charles Cree Doig and the stone used came from the local hill 'Craggan Mor' (meaning 'big rock') which gave the new distillery its name. 

Cragganmore's Distillers Edition series welcomes another delicious vintage! This 2005 vintage was finished in Port pipes for greater clarity and depth in its fruity, sweet notes. Bottled in 2017 at a smooth 40% ABV, there's plenty of room for those flavours to breathe.

Nose: dark fruit, cured ham and granary toast,  winter spices and oily walnuts.

Palate: A gorgeously balanced concoction of blackberry jam, iron-rich meat, firewood, fruit cake and nutty oak are eventually joined by more of those winter spices.

Finish: Fizzy oaky tannins and armchair leather simmer in a dry finish.

One of four official bottlings from the Craigellachie distillery released in 2014. A stunning 23 year old with plenty of bold fruit, complex herbs, refined oak and a touch of sulphur.

Nose: Lemon, orange and pineapple up front, backed up by warm oak and golden barley. Oak notes become increasingly toasty as it goes on.

Palate: Salted caramel, creamy vanilla and more orange zest. Cinnamon, nutmeg and a subtle whiff of sulphur give it plenty of depth.

Finish: The sulphur lasts, but it's not overpowering - the sweet spices bring balance to the long finish.

A limited edition bottling of Scallywag blended malt from Douglas Laing, released in celebration of the company's 70th anniversary. The fact that this expression is a 10 year old blended malt is not a coincidence - in dog years, it would be 70 year old. The cheeky fox terrier on the label even has the monocle to prove it.

46% ABV

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).

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.

This unrivalled single malt matures for at least 18 years in the highest quality, handpicked oak casks, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma.

Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla, and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet, and pleasantly spicy finish.