Scotch Malt Whisky Society 50.66

$209.69

RETRO SWEET HAMPER

At 24 years old, this Lowlander came from a refill barrel and is 59.5%

Flavour profile:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

Outturn:  122 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "We all had images of aromas from a variety of sweets all long gone by.  Green apple chewing gum, strawberry foam mushrooms, pink and white sugar mice, fruit pastilles, ice lollies as well as fig roll biscuits. The taste neat was lively, hot and spicy but sweet at the same time like sour plum brown butter upside down cake or a Ferrero Rocher chocolate dipped in sweet chili sauce. Water released initially freshly painted drain pipes soon transformed into sweet popcorn, wine gums and sweet grape juice and the flavours of Jaffa cake, candied angelica with a refreshing bitter lemon finish."

Drinking tip:  "During a hot air balloon ride"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.73

$119.69

MIDNIGHT FEAST AT PONY CLUB CAMP

This 10 year old highlander came from a 1st fill white wine hogshead and is 61.1%

Flavour profile:  Lightly peated

Outturn:  268

Panel's tasting note:  "Imagine the excitement, staying up late at night with your chums. The aroma of ponies in a stable mingled with damp hay bales. Snuggled in camphor scented blankets they munched on bacon flavoured chips, chocolate salted caramel, Bourbon biscuits, butterscotch toffee and dried cranberries. They guzzled warm waffles thick with melting hazelnut and chocolate spread with lashings of ginger beer. One panelist explained it was like ‘licking a creosote fence’ and another found linseed hoof oil. Then a feast of beef Wellington (they were posh), nut loaf, date pudding and prunes, topped off with smoky grilled pork chop and hummus."

Drinking tip:  "A late nighter"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 63.33

$112.49

RICH, TREACLY AND SUMPTUOUS

This 9 year old Speysider came from a 2nd fill sherry butt and is 61.6%

Flavour profile:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

Outturn:  661 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "We found a nose that was rich and treacly, with brandy snaps, cinder toffee, Stroop waffles, dates, black tea, HP sauce, balsamic reduction, lavender perfume and unlit cigars. The unreduced palate was substantial and mouth-filling – flavours of sherry, leather, burnt sticks, creosote, marmite, ‘fly cemeteries’ and pain au chocolat, with some smoky bacon and dry-rub ribs as well. The reduced nose found rum baba, honeyed figs, aromatic duck, gingerbread, hibiscus tea and dark cherries in chocolate. The palate was now toasted coconut flapjacks, liquorice and prunes – dark and sumptuous, with good chewy textures; brown sugar sweetness nicely balancing the dry oak."

Drinking tip:  "Your favourite armchair, by the fire, wind howling - nothing can touch you"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 29.165

$184.49

CIGAR-SMOKING, PERFUMED NURSE

From Islay, this 20 year old is at 57.4% and is from a refill barrel

Flavour profile:  Peated

Outturn:  214

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose wafted enticing tendrils of complex smoke, saddle soap, leather, straw, green olives, lemon bonbons, root beer, raspberry jam and a nurse in starched uniform giving out malt extract and vitamin c. The unreduced palate teased us with  perfumed, fruity smoke, beach bonfire ash, sweet pears, walnuts and peppery, aniseed flavours. The reduced nose was wonderfully complex and balanced, with pot-pourri, wood shavings, antiseptic lotion, oil paint, vanilla slices and burnt heather, all woven around delightfully unobtrusive smoke. The palate was now fresh and tangy; pineapple, lemon, strawberry, mint and Edinburgh Rock candy, but also teasingly seductive, like a Sobranie-smoking, perfumed lady."

Drinking tip:  "A dram to celebrate falling in love"

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Release 2

$95.99

This came as a bit of a surprise to us, we've long enjoyed Yukon Brewing's beers, but I had no idea they were making whisky. The whisky, Batch 2, is a single malt, aged between 6 and 7 years and finished in sherry casks before bottling at 46%. The release is very limited!

From the Distillery: " Two Brewers Release 02, a Special Finish expression, will be the first Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Whisky to be released in Alberta, after their Charter Release sold out in less than six hours at their Whitehorse retail location. "We are extremely appreciative of the support we have received from our fellow Yukoners on releasing our Yukon Single Malt Whisky," quipped Alan Hansen. "We knew there was great interest in our product, but I was thrilled by the many smiling patrons I had the pleasure to meet at our launch event -¬ most of whom were still smiling after waiting in line for an hour!" .

Distiller's Tasting Note: "The nose is warming and vibrant, rich aromas with a heart of peaches and stone fruit. Ripe nectar--ines, round and creamy on the palate, are wrapped at once in resins of sherried oak and bright touches of nutmeg and white pepper. The lightly lingering finish of sweet honey and spice is wispy clean." 

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 48.67

$134.99

GODZILLA VANILLA

At 57.6% this 13 year old Speysider came from a 1st fill barrel

Flavour profile:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

Outturn:  78 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "The nose set the tone – a triumphant triumvirate of fruit (orange, mango, pear, peach, strawberries), sweetness (chocolate, caramelized sugar) and cask-wood influence (oak, turmeric, pepper). The palate followed through – mouth-watering tropical fruits, including apricots and banana smoothie got our taste-buds doing the tarantella and the cask supplied nutmeg and vanilla – not just a scintilla of vanilla but enough to fill a villa. Similar story on the reduced nose –  honey flirted with passion-fruit and minty mojitos – a bitter-sweet romance, while oak stung the tongue with Japanese mustard. The reduced palate – pineapple, kiwi, toffee apple and lemon with full-on bourbon spice – proper lush!"

Drinking tip:  "A good digestif - but actually, any time at all"

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 72.35

$202.49

PINK GRAPEFRUIT GRANITA

This 28 year old Speysider was matured in a refill hogshead and comes in at 50%

Flavour profile:  Old & dignified

Outturn:  250 bottles

Panel's tasting note:  "Initially the nose neat has a lot of sweet fruity aromas like apples, cherries, strawberries and bananas. At the same time, in the background, there is a freshness like an after dinner mint or a peppermint tea. With time a deeper note of custard pie with nutmeg grated on top appears. The taste surprises with flavours of liquorice, pecan nuts, nutmeg and the dry finish of a ginger ale. Adding a drop of water makes it soft like a chamois leather cloth with aromas of hazelnuts, oregano, citrus fruits and all with an air of fresh warm char and incense smoke. The taste is zesty and sweet like freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice with herbal notes of fresh ginger and cinnamon."

Drinking tip:  "Summertime and the living is easy"

Glen Garioch Virgin Oak

$137.99

Bottled at 48% this Glen Garioch bottling has been matured in Virgin Oak. There is no age statement, but given the cask type it need not be old to be packed full of flavour! Released in 2013 this is the first release of Glen Garioch Virigin Oak.

Distiller's Tasting Note: "A velvet explosion of rich buttery malt, chocolate and spice. Tangy orange and ginger marmalade melds with treacle syrup and rich chocolate cake, leading to a long and warming finish of barley sugar and spice."

Strathisla 12 Year

$56.99

The flagship, and only regular official bottling from Strathisla distillery.

40% ABV