Tomatin Scotch Single Malt 30 year

$347.39

One of 1500 bottles bottled in 2011,

Distiller's Tasting Note

Nose: Intense juicy aromas arouse the senses - Green Apples, Passion Fruit, Honey Dew Melon, Blackcurrant and Blueberries. Citrus notes come to the fore, all the while a candy sweetness drifts along with hints of polished leather in the background.

Palate: Gooseberry, Ginger and Hazelnuts make way for spicy oak which hits the middle of the tongue. The oak is balanced beautifully by a honey sweetness that drifts to the back of the palate.

Finish: Long, clean and pleasurable.

Tomatin Cu Bocan 1989

$355.49

Cadenhead Small Batch Auchroisk 1992

$171.89

Only 2 official botlings of Auchroisk have ever been released. All other bottlings come from independent bottlers, like this 24 year old from Cadenhead. Cadenhead, established in 1842, is Scotland's oldest independent bottler! This whisky is very sherried and spicy!

Cadenhead Small Batch Linkwood 1987

$256.49

Linkwood is a single malt you seldom see bottled as a single malt as it comes from a distillery who's production is principally used for blends. This small batch release has been bottled at cask strength from 2 Sherry Butts.

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 48.37

$98.09

REAL OLD-FASHIONED LEMONADE: 9 year old Speysider from a First Fill Barrel at 58.6%. "The taste carries on the sweet herbal theme; cinnamon sticks in dried oranges, nutmeg and an empire biscuit decorated with a glacé cherry."

Panel's Tasting Note: "First to note is the oiliness of the sample with very slow thick legs almost hanging on the side of the glass. Initially a very dusty sourdough rye bread developing with time into a freshly baked fruit malt loaf. Further aromas are of an earthy garden theme at springtime with bursts of angelica and fresh mint leaves appearing. The taste carries on with this sweet herbal theme; cinnamon sticks in dried oranges, nutmeg and an empire biscuit decorated with a glacé cherry. With little water sweeter and fruitier like a lemon cordial or a lemon drizzle cake and the additional freshness of a bar of Mint Aero. The taste is now a lemon meringue pie and real old-fashioned lemonade."

Drinking Tip: "When the sun is over the yardarm."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 30.77

$135.89

THIS IS NUTS!: 16 year old Speysider from the town of Rothes matured in a Refill-Sherry Butt and bottled at 57.7%! "A wonderful oily and waxy flavour of chocolate raisins, orange oil, marzipan, almonds and strawberry liqueur."

Panel's Tasting Note: "We were greeted by a sweet and nutty aroma; toffee doughnuts, sticky toffee pudding, fruit and nut fudge and toasted tea cakes. Someone compared the initial taste neat to a bicycle puncture repair kit, but soon to be followed by a wonderful oily and waxy flavour of chocolate raisins, orange oil, marzipan, almonds and strawberry liqueur. With water the nutty notes are jumping out of the glass; Brazil, macadamia, pecan, walnut, hazelnut and dry roasted peanuts, but there is also a sweet and savoury note like oatcakes with liver paté on a raspberry coulis. The taste now dry,chalky and slightly salty with flavours of sour cream pretzels, plum chutney, malt vinegar and in the finish an old Amontillado Sherry."

Drinking Tip: "Ideal with a ploughman’s lunch." 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 73.57

$162.89

JAMAICAN RUMTOPF

A 21 year old refill barrel matured Speysider at 55.7%

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  209 bottles

Panel's tasting note: "The initial nose neat is a heady pungent sweet aroma of musky perfume. It takes some time before other notes evolve and become noticed; an aromatic smell of sandalwood followed by herbal notes like a tartar sauce with capers, chives, parsley and lemon juice. The taste starts off very hot like biting on an individual peppercorn in a whisky and peppercorn sauce. After that it leaves you with a very creamy and buttery mouth feel and the sweetness of a cinnamon swirl. With water a lot sweeter and darker like a Rumtopf using high ester Jamaican rum and honey-glazed parsnips and carrots. Less intense in the taste but the flavours remain the same as neat becoming juicier and fruitier."

Drinking Tip: "As a companion for the months needed making a Rumtopf"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 70.8

$89.09

YOUTHFUL AND ZESTY - YET COMPLEX!: A 7 year old Northern Highlander from a Refill Barrel at 59.4%. "The palate showed marzipan and honey sweetness, grapefruit and lemon zestiness, plenty of fruit , some slate mineral notes and substantial heat leaving a mellow after-glow."

Panel's Tasting Note: "Youthful whisky at its best – nosing of cut grass, delicate florals, dry white wine and lemon sherbet – attractively spring-like, but also complex – pencil shavings, clove, vanilla, crème brûlée and eventually liquorice. The palate showed a good personality –marzipan and honey sweetness, grapefruit and lemon zestiness, plenty of fruit (apple, grape, blackcurrant), some slate mineral notes and substantial heat leaving a mellow after-glow. The reduced nose seemed sweeter – pear juice, American Cream Soda and Jolly Ranchers. The palate increased the wood and flint notes but became milder, the heat more a tingle and less of a nip. Nearest distillery to Glenmorangie."

Drinking Tip: "The light, zesty character would make this a good spring or summer aperitif."
 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 44.55

$160.19

AFTERNOON TEA AT FORTNUM & MASON: An ex-Hogshead Speysider at 52.9% after 22 years in the oak. "n the taste surprisingly fresh wood smoke then scones, clotted cream and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil mint syrup."

Panel's Tasting Note: "To start the nose neat is a new solid pine chest of drawers with embossed leather inlays and treated with an earthy tobacco finish, followed by less exotic aromas of pineapple with gammon, lemon grass, salted lime, geranium leaves, tomato vines as well as tomato crisps. On the taste surprisingly fresh wood smoke then scones, clotted cream and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil mint syrup. With water the aromas turn it into a Swedish knackebrod or a tea loaf with sultanas and caraway. To taste, sweet like a cream tea and well-done toasted crumpets with salted butter. The name of the distillery is pronounced ‘Krai-GELLachy’ which means ‘rocky hill’."

Drinking Tip: "Whilst enjoying afternoon tea."