Whisky

Matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, 19 Years Old Batch 3 is the latest expression. This sublime third batch is, like the bottles before it, is inspired by Islay?s Traigh Bhan beach.
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible ? balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. However, the story behind this rare aged liquid is what truly sets it apart?

A whisky resigned to the furthest reaches of the Ardbeg Warehouse, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3 was one of the only spirits in the Distillery?s history to be bottled in the midst of a global lockdown. Having spent months on end behind closed doors, this unprecedented bottling is now ready to come out from the dark? and into the light.

Non chill-filtered at 46.2% ABV.

M?ine is a showcase of Bunnahabhain's single malt Scotch whisky with a characteristically Islay-esque helping of peat at its core. While Bunnahabhain is one of the few distilleries on the island that produced unpeated malts, they have more than enough practice putting together peated expressions

Distilled in 1989, this rare single malt whisky has been carefully nurtured for three decades in our finest Sherry hogsheads and Bourbon barrels. Bottled at a cask strength of 45.3%, this 30-Year-Old is a celebration of Bowmore?s rich fruity and subtly smoky style. With only 2580 bottles available in 2020, Bowmore 30-Year-Old inspired by the terrain that surrounds the Bowmore Distillery and the legendary landscape that defines our whisky. Capturing the art of time, this whisky takes cues from the detailed markings on driftwood and the refined polish of sea glass, reflecting its eternal connection with Islay .

45.3% ABV

A feast of tropical fruits, berries and creamy toffee blooms into sweet oak, vanilla and toasted nuts; this is a whisky to truly behold.

Four long decades have crawled by as this precious whisky slowly and silently matured within our warehouses by the sea. Indeed, the casks that this whisky was maturing in were all but forgotten, until our blending team discovered them whilst reviewing the warehouse ledgers. Sourced from the legendary wines and spirit merchant, J.G Turney, these casks have been home to this stunning whisky for the past forty years.

This unique 40 Year Old is as rare as it is prized – if you’re ever lucky enough to hold one, be gentle, you’re holding a piece of history!  As with all our single malt whiskies, this is non-chill filtered and natural colour.

Colour

Rich lemony gold

Nose
Hints of tropical fruits, banana, berries, creamy toffee, vanilla, rich nuttiness and delicate sweet oak.

Palate
Sweet malt, creamy caramel, vanilla, creamy berries, with hints of toasted nuts, tropical fruit, banana and pineapple.

Finish
Long, sweet and fruity.

Ardbeg Grooves was released in celebration of Ardbeg Day 2018, and as ever, the Islay-based distillers have created a most intriguing expression. Part of the whisky that makes up Grooves was matured in red wine casks that were very well-charred, resulting in heavy grooves in the surface of the wood. A mellow though flavoursome dram.

Nose: A thick, spiced aroma of iodine, seaweed and golden syrup leads among a herbal note of lavender. An earthy funk from damp bonfire wood, old oak and dried grass is complemented by lighter touches of butterscotch, stone fruits and a little marzipan icing.

Palate: Vanilla fudge, toffee popcorn and tarred orchard fruits rise through a big, salty opening. Savoury BBQ notes of cured Italian meats are percolated by paprika, green chilli and scorched herbs. Antique leather and damp oak form an interesting backdrop.

Finish: Seaside bonfire and smoked salts percolate through a mellow sweetness.

Bruichladdich isn't commonly released by independent bottlers such as Douglas Laing making this all the more collectable. 

This bottling was distilled in October 1991 and bottled at 26 years old in November 2017 for the Xtra Old Particular range. It's packed with the citrus fruit, florals and honey character that made the distillery famous before it's 2000 revival (after closing in 1995).

One refill Hogshead - DL12259

Finlaggan is very much the SECRET Islay, as the name of the distillery from which it comes is a closely guarded secret and known to only a select few. 

Colour: Very pale straw with lemony-yellow highlights. 

Nose: Full & pungent with an earthy smokiness & fresh hints of ozone. 

Flavour: Dry, smoky & fresh, clean & big-bodied. Finish: Long & smooth with a smoky-burnt oakiness & a very slight edge of richness.

The Finlaggan range features single malt Scotch whisky from an undisclosed Islay distillery, bottled by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. The range has seen a few expansions in recent years - this early 2016 release has enjoyed a finishing period in port casks, resulting in yummy, wine-like sweetness blending with the smoky, coastal peat.

This is the third release in Laphroaig's The Ian Hunter Story; a 33 year old Islay single malt, which enjoyed its lengthy maturation in ex-bourbon casks. The series honours and celebrates the impact that Ian Hunter, the last member of the Johnston family to own and manage Laphroaig, had on the distillery. It comes in a beautiful presentation and the whisky fits into the pages of the book.

Subtitled 'Source Protector', this 33 year old ex-bourbon cask whisky comes with the story of how Ian protected the water source and peat fields of Laphroaig.

Nose: the signature Laphroaig peat is certainly there, but it’s rounded by age. Seawater, elegant charcoal ashes, hints of lemon candy and bright peaches. Maybe some pineapple. Sweet almonds and whiffs of vanilla pastry. Menthol and embrocations, evolving to floral honey. A little polished wood, old leather and sheepwool as well. Quite excellent.

Mouth: somehow there’s a rather weak onset, staying silent for a while. After that it shows lots of beautiful fruity notes. Mango, pineapple and creamy papaya. However these are held back a little by a wave of oak, which also brings along peppery notes and ginger. It struggles to show its feathers. Subtle iodine and wax towards the end.

Finish: good length, slightly drying, with mint, cold ashes, hints of white pepper and tobacco leaves.

Laphroaig has fashioned this whisky using malt from a number of different types of cask, including Oloroso Sherry butts, white American oak, Pedro Ximenez seasoned hoggies, Quarter casks and first fill bourbon casks. 

This does sport the hallmark medicinal Laphroaig qualities we all love so much but it's not packing a massive peat punch and so is a great entry whisky to the joys of Islay for someone just starting the Islay journey.

Two parcels of Scottish barley distilled spirit have matured for a minimum of six years in ex-American oak casks before being transferred to red wine casks from the Gironde left bank, north of Bordeaux. Bottled at 56.1% ABV, this spirit showcases stunning spice and fruit notes. It is a rich and elegant, undeniably Islay single malt.

Nose ? Lots of fresh fruit aromas mingle with the dry peat smoke; from the oak comes spices, along with chocolate, toasted malt with toffee, brown sugar and delicate coconut and vanilla notes. As you nose again, the fruit notes of both the spirit and the wood come together. The earthy peat smoke wraps around the fruit and spice and holds everything together, highlighting the wonderful marine and ozone notes that breeze through the dram.

Palate ? A wave of flavours sweep across the palate, the sweetness from the oak and malt lead, followed by the smoke, citrus and dried fruit notes. Another sip helps you find the oak notes, the dried fruit, marzipan and spice. Caramel and chocolate notes emerge alongside the peat smoke with its earthy richness. A little water opens the citrus fruit and marine elements and brings out a little more of the coconut and vanilla notes from the oak. The structure on the palate is firm and round and balances the depth of flavour of this whisky.

Finish ? The peat smoke comes through on the finish with a more medicinal phenol style. Coconut and floral notes waver, and a saline marine element combines with the earthy smoke in the classic Port Charlotte style. The oak?s softness and the minerality of the spirit become wrapped in smoke, a familiar signature to this dram.

56.1% ABV

This is the 2011 vintage of Bruichladdich's Bere Barley single malt Scotch whisky, distilled using... Well, bere barley, of course. Bere is a heritage variety of barley that doesn't quite have the sizable yields as other varieties, and thus its popularity waned, but thanks to a resurrection mission by the Barony Mill and Orkney College, it's back in the game for whisky making! This whisky is made with bere barley from Orkney grown in 2010, and matured in first-fill American oak bourbon casks for 10 years before being bottled up at 50% ABV.

Nose: Orange and lime, with herby freshness bringing some savoury balance.

Palate: Toasted nuts, banana chips, milk chocolate, a splash of green apple acidity, sponge cake.

Finish: Hints of sea breeze stick around, with a touch of lemon.

The 2020 Kilchoman Small Batch Release is a vatting of Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry matured Kilchoman at 47.4% with one specially selected Pedro Ximenez Sherry Hogshead at natural cask strength.

Expect to find the classic Kilchoman citrus and peat smoke with added layers of treacle, toffee & cooked fruits.

This is batch 2 of the Small Batch Releases with 1,260 bottles produced.  

Single cask Islay whisky bottled to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Belgian independent bottler the Nectar. After initial maturation in American oak, this distinctive single malt was filled into dessert wine casks from Monbazillac. A great combination of sweet wine cask influence and coastal peatiness.

52.7% ABV

Eilean Mor is a 2015 release from Finlaggan, a brand of whisky from an undisclosed Islay distillery. Bottled at a higher strength than the Old Reserve, this expertly balances smoke and fruit.