Lagavulin Distillers Edition 2022
$194.99
It's a shame how scarce Lagavulin has become. The distillery just doesn't seem to have the stocks to keep the market wet at this point in time. Not to mention, we're not getting a lot of help from our local importers either. When the 2022 Distillers Edition showed up a few weeks back, we were quick to snap it up, because I think we all know by now that any Lagavulin is good Lagavulin.
This should be a particularly interesting version of the Distillers Edition; it's no longer the 16-year-old with a PX finish (read: almost 17 years), it's now a non-age-stated whisky with an undeclared finishing period. While that almost sounds like a bad thing, the reviews are better for this one than previous, older editions. Not to mention, for those that like their Islay malts to have a little more punching power, it's best to drink them a bit younger. The longer that liquid sits in those beautiful old warehouses, the softer the smoke becomes.
Shame about the 43%, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers.
Wild Life Vodka 50ml
$4.99
Wild Life Vodka is made from 100% Albertan grain. The spirit shows wonderful vanilla notes on the nose coming from the base grain: Alberta spring wheat. On the palate this vodka is clean, sweet and soft. The subtle finishing notes of chocolate, coffee, and malted barley make this spirit perfect for classic cocktails.
A beautiful display of what a premium vodka can really taste like!
Glengoyne 15 Year
$134.99
New and improved. Their words, not ours. We think it was always a pretty killer dram (we just wish the abv was a bit more robust!). And while this 15-year-old was matured in a near-even split of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, it's definitely the sherry that sings loudest. Whoever pulled these particular casks together absolutely nailed it: 20% first fill bourbon, 25% first fill sherry, and 55% refill casks. Sounds pretty simple, but it's the balance that really wows here. Great blending.
43% abv
Ardnamurchan AD Single Malt
$77.99
Ardnamurchan is unquestionably one of the most exciting young distilleries in Scotland. The whisky is rough-and-tumble old school highland malt. In other words, exactly what we love in young whisky. Expect a wee bit of peat with this one.
Producer Note
"Our Single Malt whisky comprises an equal proportion of peated and unpeated malt. The cask makeup is 65% ex bourbon barrels from Kentucky and 35% ex sherry casks, Oloroso and PX, from Jerez."
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 46.8% abv.
Rest & Be Thankful Finglassie 2017
$85.99
Finglassie is what the Inchdairnie distillery calls their peated stocks. We've only seen one or two of them so far - Inchdairnie was only founded in 2015 - so it's hard to say what the distillery profile will be, but it was probably a smart decision to release this is a small batch bottling, as opposed to single cask releases. We're probably getting a closer approximation of what we can expect in future releases. The peated ones, anyway.
This 5-year-old was matured in ex-Islay Bourbon casks (so...introducing a bit of the Islay style of peat perhaps?), and finished in ex-Oloroso butts.
Natural Colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 46% abv.
Whisky Sponge Highland Malt 1993 No.59A
$324.99
Distilled in 1993, this mystery Highland Single Malt as filled into a Refill Hogshead, where it matured 28 years before bottling at 44.7%. 87pts Whiskybase
Producer Description
"Made from a secret, ancient family recipe handed down since the primordial era, this delectable Cream Of Sponge features only natural highland ingredients, tinned fresh at unreduced strength without any additives or colouring. Full of vitamins, minerals, vegetable emojis and famed for the waxy residue it leaves on your tongue. Please sup your Cream Of Sponge responsibly, in the manner of an ancient, wizen Druid sooking it painstakingly by the thimbleful from a wooden spoon..."
Amrut Portonova Cask Strength
$139.99
Consistently one of the best Port-finished whiskies in the world, Portonova is finally back up at its apex bottling strength of 62.1% abv, and we could not be happier. This whisky is a crescendo in a glass. Hopefully, it is back to stay.
Boutique-y English Whisky Batch 3 12 YO
$102.99
This unpeated yet feisty 63.4% ABV bottle from that Boutique-y Whisky Company features 12 year old Single Malt from the English Whisky Company. Filled from one ex-Bourbon Barrel, it is one of 272 bottles that have made its way out into the world, with only a handful coming to Canada.
Notes From The Folks at Boutique-Y
"This is our 3rd batch, and the first commercially available 12 Year Old bottled from this distillery (there was a recent bespoke club bottling of 12 year old whiskies) Their 11 Year Old distillery release has recently been awarded English Whisky of the Year at The Wizards of Whisky Awards
The distillery was the first to produce whisky in England for over 100 years! The English Whisky Company led the new wave of English whisky makers when they released the first English single malt for more than a hundred years in 2009. Some of the best barley is grown in Norfolk, and the Breckland water is superb.
Their distillery is named ‘St. George’s’, but thea are known as The English Whisky Company - there was only one when they opened in 2006, and remained the only whisky distillery in England for some time. St George’s also the first whisky distillery Boutiquey-Dave ever visited, so he have a huge soft spot for this distillery"
Singleton of Glendullan 14 Year SR 2023
$184.99
Maybe the least interesting distillery in this year's outturn, but well-countered by an interesting cask type: Chardonnay de Bourgonge French Oak.
55% abv