Scotch Malt Whisky Society 44.56

$165.59

SWEET AND SOUR CREATIVE TENSION

This 20 year old Speysider is from a refill hogshead at 51.8%

Flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

Outturn:  300 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose had heaps of honey, mounds of marshmallows and vast vanilla it also evoked summer barbecues (charred ribs, salad, lemon, balsamic, wood-sap, lawns) and a bookbinder's workshop (leather, paper, glue). The palate had sweet and sour creative tension – sweet vanilla, chocolate muffins, crème brûlée, dark toffee and fudge against stewed fruits, Haribo sours, orange and blueberry. We also found woody notes – oily pine and wood fire embers. The reduced nose offered millionaire’s shortbread, sweet pipe tobacco, shrubberies and a good blast of honeycomb; while balsa wood and clove joined the palate. This 1891 distillery was co-founded by ‘Restless Peter’."

Drinking tip:  A summer barbecue dram (or just with a good book).

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 23.73

$124.19

THE VITAL SPARK'S ENGINE ROOM

!!!Enter the raffle for a chance to purchase, deadline is Noon MST, Sunday August 9!!!

This 11 year old from Islay is from a refill barrel at 61.5%

Flavour profile:  Oily & coastal

Outturn:  249 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Mineralic and nose-drying (a dry beach), then scents of mouthwash, bandages, antiseptic cream which increase in strength until they become a full-blown First Aid kit, while at the same time becoming sweeter, like salt-water taffy. The taste, straight, is very dry after a sweet and salty start, with a spicy finish. Water introduces a grubby, old-fashioned engine room (maritime, with exhaust fumes). ‘Hard salt Swedish liquorice’ was also noted. The taste is now lightly sweet and salty, with a whiff of holy smoke. From the distillery which brought us ‘Yellow Submarine’."

Drinking tip:  "After an industrial accident."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.119

$143.99

AN ALICE IN WONDERLAND DRAM

This 16 year old Speysider comes in at 57.7% and is from a 1st fill barrel

Flavour profile:  Spicy & sweet

Outturn:  216 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The first nose was explosive with camphor, Berwick Balls and fruit pastilles. Sweeter notes of golden syrup, strawberry jam and tangerine pushed through. A crazy tea party ensued with ham baked in Coke and a dusting of Moroccan spices. The tasting was sensational, hot with gingerbread and nutmeg and then black fruit smoothie. Water opened the doors of a bakers oven - waves of biscotti, macademia nut, brindle toffee, orange water and buttermilk icing. By this point the panel were exhausted there was so much going on - they felt as though they had fallen down the rabbit hole."

Drinking tip:  "When looking for something truly unexpected."

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 120.7

$269.99

SWEET, FRAGRANT AND SATISFYING

!!!Enter the raffle for a chance to purchase, deadline is Noon MST, Sunday August 9!!!

This 16 year old from Japan is from a 1st fill bota corta cask and is 55.5%

Flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

Outturn:  517 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose carries fragrant blossom, deep Pedro Ximenez notes as well as sweet, rich rolling tobacco.  There’s treacle spiced buns, rum and raisin fudge, dates, blackcurrants and spices galore.  Espresso with lots of brown sugar was quickly replaced and complimented by coffee cream dark chocolates.  To taste we found kirsch cocktails with burnt orange skin, liquorice, caraway seeds and teriyaki glaze.  “It has everything!”  Water brought out cider brandy notes, with cranberries, polished wood, mulled port, boozy fruitcake and rolling tobacco all contributing to the party.  Spicy and tannic to finish, we found the sweet meatiness of slow cooked pork."

Drinking tip:  "With a cheese board instead of port."  

Jura 1984

$1,273.49

Advent Calendar Whisky KLG

$13.49

Bottled at 46% the Loch Gorm is Kilchoman's sherried Islay expression. Approximately 5 years of age it is bottled without colouring or chill-filtering  . Kilchoman is Islay's smallest and only farm distillery. Their whiskis are among our best selling Islay malts.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: loads of dark fruits, raisins, dates and figs with Manukah honey and chewy malt; there is a hint of earthy smoke and briny tones but the sherry is in charge.

Palate: more dark fruits, drier than expected due to the nose; leathery, earthy and tarry with licorice and rasins, dates and figs; a touch of tobacco, leather and bakers chocolate; the salty smoke and malt are slow to emerge; very savoury.

Finish: rich, long, coating and dark: spices, chocolate and smoke; fading elegant smoke with sea breeze; malt shows up last, and based on its persistence, it will last until morning.

Comment: the sherry is dominant but not so robust that it oversahdows the spirit.

Kilchoman 2010 KWM Cask #440

$125.99

The distillery's nearly flawless spirit and rigorous oak policy have ensured that their young whiskies can compete with the best in the world. Our previous three casks of whisky from this maverick Islay Distillery were all big hits and our 4th has just arrived. Distilled in 2010 and matured in an American Ex-Bourbon Barrel at 5 years of age it is another cracker! Only 221 hand numbered bottles are available at a cask strength of 60.4%.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: fresh with big notes of marzipan, orange pith, toasty oak and sea salt caramel; underneath briny coastal notes begin mingling with tar and earthy smoke begin to develop; the are soft fruits too, Asian pear, honey dew melon and mango salsa.

Palate: juicy, smoky and fruity there is immediately a lot going on: chewy malt, barley sugars; sea salt caramel, candied salmon and building earthy peat and dark spices; more Asian pear, mango salsa and a touch of melon, bright orange notes all atop a creamy base; the smoke is clean and firm but soft; sticky soft Panda brand licorice comes to the fore.

Finish: refreshing, almost minty, with fading fruits, sugars, malt and smoke maritime flourishes.

Comment: if you love peat, you are going to adore this one!

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 76.94

$181.79

TOTALLY FLAVOURSOME

This 26 year old Speysider came from a refill hogshead and is 59.4%

Flavour profile:  Old & dignified

Outturn:  249 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "This rather dignified nose had top notes of peach, watermelon, white grapes and honeysuckle – even soap flakes; underneath that we found coconut oil, marmalade, leather-bound books, white pepper, toffee and sugared vanilla. The palate was mouth-filling and creamy – impressions of salted caramel, chocolate, candied peel, Turkish delight, crystallized ginger, cigars and jasmine tea – ‘totally flavoursome’ someone said. The reduced nose was sweet (Danish pastries) heady (geranium, pine needles, bath bombs) and deep (pecans, Dentyne, dunnage warehouses, preserved ginger). The palate was sweet and yummy – like walnut whips, with dandelion and burdock on the finish. From the oldest distillery in Dufftown."

Drinking tip:  To go with a good fairy tale before bed - just let the mind drift away...

Glenfarclas Family Cask 1975

$1,674.99