Whisky

Distilled at Tullibardine in the Highlands, this is a very tasty new whisky which was finished in a 225 litre cask (thus the name) which previously held maturing Sauternes dessert wine from Chateau Suduiraut. The result is a golden-coloured single malt with a deliciously creamy, fruity flavour.

Nose: Citrus peels and allspice. Notes of creamy vanilla, golden syrup, cocoa butter and black pepper.

Palate: Spiced palate entry with notes of candied orange and Seville marmalade. A little dried pineapple and white chocolate.

Finish: Medium finish with lingering sweet spices.

Overall: Superbly fruity whisky with a lovely influence from a dessert wine cask.

The Dalmore 15 year old was first launched in 2007. Matured in Matusalem, Apostoles and Amoroso Sherry casks, it proffers all those winter spice, orange zest and chocolate notes characteristic of Dalmore.

Nose: A chocolate orange. Potpourri, perfumed. Fruitcake, Sherry.

Palate: Medium, lovely delivery. Zesty orange, Cura?ao, chocolate. Winter spice, stem ginger in syrup. Hints of anise and a little hickory.

Finish: Malty barley and smoky espresso.

Matured in a combination of refill hogsheads and butts for three decades, this Dalwhinnie single malt is an elegant addition to Diageo's 2019 Special Releases. Aromas of raisins, leather, lemon and cinnamon-baked apples mingle with mint, grape jelly, honeysuckle, spring meadows and hay. The palate offers notes of summer flowers, vanilla toffee, delicate oak spice and slices of apple and pear, followed by zesty lemon, candied flowers, Crystalised ginger and buttery shortbread biscuits.

This ultra-rare single vintage Dalwhinnie has an astonishing bright intensity for its age and comes uniquely from refill American oak hogsheads, all of which were casked in 1989. Three decades of maturity have bought a fine elegance to the vibrant distillery character, allowing its moorland aromas to peak. The result is smoothly sweet, yet also surprisingly peppery

One of four new Fettercairn expressions to be launched in August 2018, the Fettercairn 12 Year Old was intended to embody the distillery’s floral and exotic fruit-driven character. It was matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

Nose: Refreshing nectarine, white flowers and milk chocolate emerge initially. Black toffee and subtle roasted coffee provide darker notes underneath,

Palate: Tropical fruit and sticky Jamaican ginger cake add a sweet and spicy depth which a flicker of bitter herbs and vanilla complement.

Finish: Orchard fruits and soft spices linger.

Back in 2000, the Glencadam distillery was mothballed only to be reopened three years later in 2003. In 2017, to mark 13 years since the distillery reopening, Glencadam release this 13 Year Old expression, name The Reawakening. Only 6,000 bottles were produced.

Nose: Grassy malt leading into vanilla-rich fudge and lemon oil.

Palate: Juicy pear and grapefruit. A touch of rye bread and marmalade. Peppery at points.

Finish: Lingering cinnamon and poached fruit warmth.

Nose: Pronounced orchard fruits and vanilla pod mingled with aromas of citrus peels and toasted nuts. 

Palate: Sweet and creamy with layers of sugared almond and panna cotta followed with notes of dried apple, nutmeg and cocoa powder. 

Finish: Perfectly balanced with creamy rice pudding and gentle cinnamon spices lingering long on the tongue.

Multi-award winning Glencadam Highland Single Scotch Malt Whisky Aged 21 Years is a fine example of centuries of craftsmanship and tradition. The exceptional malt with a beautifully lingering, true flavour

Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old Single Malt scotch whisky has an unconventional peat character with a lot of depth marrying smoke and spiciness. It is matured for 10 years in a mix of recharred American oak and refill bourbon American oak casks giving sweet vanilla background notes that complements the soft peat style of Loch Lomond?s unique still set up.

Loch Lomond 14yo single malt has been matured in refill American oak casks in French Oak from the Limousin region for up to twelve months. These lightly toasted casks are made especially for Loch Lomond.

The result is an explosion of flavour with green apple and pear on the nose, sweet toffee and vanilla fudge mixed with grapefruit citrus on the palate leading to an amazing depth of gentle smoke & warming spice on the finish.

A favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, being conveniently situated close by Balmoral Castle. Royal Lochnagar was originally a key ingredient in VAT 69, but most production is now for single malts. Royal Lochnagar is found near the village of Crathie, very close to Balmoral, the Royal family's Scottish country residence.

This is a wonderfully rich and complex single malt. Opening with rich and spicy aromas of cr?me brulee, heather honey and crumbled cinnamon, intensely fruity notes follow - fresh pineapple dressed with a scattering of sun-kissed lemon zest. There?s a hint of freshly-baked sponge cake too, warm from the oven, and you?ll find cinnamon again, but toasted shards this time. Citrus and vanilla notes linger in the aromatic waves of peat smoke. 

To create 15 Year Old Viking Heart, Gordon Motion, Highland Park's Master Whisky Maker, selected predominantly sherry seasoned European oak casks to deliver warm, spicy notes and sherry seasoned American oak casks to provide a balance of sweet vanilla. Expertly adding just a few refill casks to soften and smooth the flavours, Gordon chose to bottle at 44% ABV to allow the whisky?s vibrant fruitiness and distinctive heathery peat smoke to shine through. Why a ceramic decanter? Rewind a century or two and Highland Park whisky would have been stored in earthenware vessels. Inspired by examples found at their distillery in Orkney, Highland Park asked Wade Ceramics if they could work with them to create a modern version. Established in 1810 and based in Stoke-on-Trent in England (known globally as the traditional home of ceramics) Wade share Highland Park's commitment to environmental responsibility, focusing on sustainable manufacturing and using locally sourced raw materials. The lead-free porcelain decanter is 100% food safe, glazed inside and out, and embossed with the lion and serpent design that appears on many of Highland Park's glass bottles. Look closely at the back of the bottle and you?ll find the heart motif that inspired this whisky?s name.

Following on from Glenmorangie's A Tale of Cake, the magnificent distillery has gone and created A Tale of Winter. Director of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden wanted to evoke the feeling of winter, of sitting in front of a fireplace while the snow fall outside, and to do so, he finished a bourbon barrel-matured single malt in ex-Marsala wine casks. All those rich, comforting, chocolatey notes certainly put this one in the 'winter warmer' category.

Nose: Honeycomb, chocolate digestives, fragrant lavender, sultana, and cinnamon.

Palate: Cocoa, Brazil nuts, vanilla tablet, jammy red berry sweetness developing, crystallised ginger.

Finish: Spicy ginger remains, mellowed by vanilla and chocolate mousse.

The latest release from the Ardnamurchan distillery, owned by the Indy bottler Adelphi developing quite a following for the traditional Highland's style. This is a 50:50 split of peated and unpeated malt, aged in 65% bourbon casks, and 35% sherry casks.

Staff Tasting Notes
Nose – Charred marshmallows, a beach bonfire with some poached pear notes. Salty and sandy.
Palate – A structured minerality, milk chocolate, elegantly peated. Creamy and balanced, we found it had a lightness that made it quite easy drinking. Even a touch of chocolate milkshake.
Finish – Stewed and salted fruits (we think that is a thing). Raspberries too.

Batch eight of this cask strength release has been matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon and refill casks, creating a sweet, peppery character with notes of caramel, ginger and banana.