Mannochmore 18 Year
$247.49
Royal Mile Whiskies calls this "a lovely, lovely sherried whisky," and other reviewers have given it an even better review. Judging by the appearance they must be spot on, after 18 years in sherry casks it has hues of mahogany. Nose: leather, chocolate, strawberries and coffee, very fruity; Palate: big and chewy, chocolate, coffee and more strawberries. Finish: medium long with more dark chocolate and toffee.
Arran Bourbon Cask
$69.74
Nose: Sweet oak and honey, hints of coconut and candy appear with butterscotch and liquorice also evident. Palate: The taste is crisp and malty with a slight nuttiness, the malt begins to open and notes of citrus and sweet fruit emerge to coat the tongue. Finish: Clean and fresh, a lingering creamy sweetness; mellow, smooth and bursting with flavour. Distilled 1/10/98. Bottled 29/10/08. Cask 703. 231 Bottles.
Cask 94 14 Year Single Malt
$70.19
Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength
$70.19
Springbank is Scotland's oldest family-owned distillery, and also its most traditional. Matured in 60% sherry hogshead and 40% refill sherry butts, this whisky is deep, rich and full of flavour. Spicy, smoky sherry notes, burnt fruits and dark chocolate with salt water toffee and earthy peat.
Springbank Claret Wood 12 Year
$74.69
Springbank is Scotland's oldest family owned distillery as well as its most traditional. My tasting note on the Claret: Nose: dark and earthy, new leather coat, chocolate covered strawberries and caramilk bar and dark fruits; Palate: rich-dark-spicy-sweet notes, earthy with black licorice, soft tannins, caramelized strawberries, leather and tobacco tones; Finish: long, soft and drying with more licorice.
Laphroaig 18 Year
$134.99
The Laphroaig 18 is one of the distillery's most iconic releases, and very good value. The whisky is bottled at 48% from ex-Bourbon barrels. One of Scotland's peatiest whiskies, this Islay malt is toned down in the medicinal-peat-brine department, by its 18 years in the oak. The result is a more balanced and nuanced whisky!
Distiller's Tasting Note
Nose: At bottling strength, a soft toffee sweet but faintly spicy flavour counterbalances the trace of delicate phenols and fruit. An all encompassing smoothness brings these together. A touch of water allows the seaweed and salt to come through but not enough to overpower the vanilla and honey sweetness with just a trace of new mown hay and peat at the finish.
Body: An intense depth that is exceptionally balanced and warming.
Palate: An instant warming tang of smoke fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and leaves a lasting sweetness on the taste. With a touch of water, the peaty warmth fills the mouth but does not overshadow the sweet chocolate smoothness. This is balanced by the rich toffee taste and slowly fades into a delicate hint of heather and peat smoke.
Finish: Full bodied, long with a luxurious oily smoothness.
Springbank CV
$53.99
According to the distillery's official tasting notes, this one is a mix of subdued sherry sweetness, subtle peat notes, menthol and eucalyptus, a meaty character with complex hints of sesame oil and soy sauce on the nose. The palate features subtle sherry notes with a depth of oak and spice, traditional Dunnage warehouses. The finish has flavours mainly coming from the sherry casks, although right at the end, there's a hint of port tannins. Less than 10 years old, this Springbank bottling was made to express what is at the heart of Springbank whisky. But what does CV mean? Chairman's Vat? Currriculum vitae? or Cuvee of Vintages?
Laphroaig 25 Year
$458.99
My Tasting Note: Nose: very fruity, peach crumble, doughy with tropical fruit notes, some salty-briny smoke and vanilla pods. Palate: creamy, fruity and very rich; some buttery-briny peat, with more lush tropical fruit notes, gentle smoke with sea breeze, burnt orange and traces of sherry. Finish: darker, peatier and saltier with loads of chocolate and spicy warming oak.
Caol Ila 10 Year Unpeated Ltd. Ed.
$93.59
Caol Ila distillery, est. 1846, has one of the most beautiful views of any distillery in Scotland, with the large windows of its still room opening across the Sound of Islay to the Isle of Jura and its famous Paps. This unpeated 10 year old has some heat, how could it not at 65.8% but there is much more to it than that: oily and spicy with lots of vanilla, apples and honey; peppery orange notes on the finish.