Arran Quarter Cask 56.2%
$86.99
This NAS release from Arran's Lochranza Distillery spent seven years in first fill ex-Bourbon Barrels before being transferred into 125 Litre American Oak Quarter Casks for another two years of maturation. It is bottled at a cask strength of 56.2% ABV with no colouring added and unchill filtered.
Lagavulin 8 Year
$103.99
This is the new core release of Lagavulin 8 Year, released on the heels of the highly successful 200th Anniversary release of Lagavulin 8 Year. Bottled at 48% it was matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-wine seasoned casks.
Georgie Crawford said: ‘The 8 Year Old is a signature Lagavulin-style bottling with a liveliness that balances out the Islay smokiness. We hope that Lagavulin fans will enjoy this bottling, just as Alfred Barnard did centuries ago.’"
Glenturret 7 Year Peat Smoked
$84.99
This peated Glenturret bottled at 46% was primarily matured in American oak, but with a little European to add sweet fruit notes. We currently have the 2023 release, but the 2024 is arriving soon.
Millstone PX Peated Single Malt 46%
$84.99
Produced by the Zuidam family distillery in Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands, this peated Millstone single malt whisky was aged entirely in PX Solera Sherry Casks. Bottled in small batches at 46% ABV.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: Rich Sherry notes along with wood and spice notes. Cloves, juniper, star anise, gingerbread, trail mix with raisins and walnuts, maple syrup, and an underlying potpourri and wood smoke.
Palate: The peat comes out more on the palate, with sweet notes from the PX Sherry and a lot of nuttiness. Toasted almonds, walnuts, dates, maple syrup again, earthy tobacco, fruit leather, amaretto, Frangelico, black licorice and Montreal steak spice.
Finish: The earthy smoke from the peat and nutty notes from the sherry linger together nicely.
Comment: This is big sherry with a decent amount of smoke, but very approachable. The spice notes and the smoke keep the PX Sherry influence from going overly sweet and decadent, which is surprising. This could have been over the top, but it finds a nice balance.
Auchentoshan 1988 PX
$799.99
A new 29 year old Auchentoshan distilled in 1988 and finished in PX Sherry Casks. Bottled at 49.7%. No word on the outturn, suspect it is of very limited availability!
Producer's Description: "This 29 year old vintage has been finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and selected for its superb aroma, lingering sweetness and intensity of flavour."
Old Pulteney 18 Year
$159.99
The new 18 Year replaces the now-discontinued 21 Year. Matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry, the whisky is bottled at 46%.
Producer Description
"Matured for 18 years, this is indulgent and spicy thanks to the casks selected for maturation. Taking its character and colour entirely from the casks within which it has been nurtured, this is a deeply warming whisky. The indulgence extends through this single malt with chocolate and spice defining the character but allowing for the influence of more vibrant zesty flavours."
Glenfarclas Family Cask 2000 S24
$709.99
This 2000 vintage Glenfarclas Family Cask comes from the Summer of 2024 bottling series. This ~24 Year Old Single Malt comes from a Sherry Butt - Cask #3287. Bottled at a cask strength of 51.8%.
Loch Lomond 18 Year
$144.99
Bottled at 46%, the Loch Lomond 18 Year was matured in ex-Bourbon Barrels. 90pts Whisky Advocate. Evan also thinks it is very, very good.
Speyburn 18 Year
$159.99
Matured 18 long years in American & European oak before bottling at 46% without colouring or chill filtering.
About Speyburn Distillery
Speyburn describes itself as a light, classic Speyside style single malt. Founded in 1897 at the height of a whisky boom the distillery is fairly large given the fact it is not that well known, producing 4.5 million litres with most of that going towards Blended Scotch Whisky production. Poorly known though it may be, Speyburn has outsold each of its sister distilleries (Old Pulteney, Balblair and anCnoc aka Knockdhu) every year since 2005. The distillery underwent a major expansion in 2015 and rebranded over the course of 2017/18. Those new whiskies have now landed in Alberta!
One interesting fact, Speyburn was the first distillery in Scotland to move away from floor maltings. In 1898 they installed a drum maltings which was used until the late 1960s. The equipment is still available to be seen, protected by Historic Scotland.
