Deanston Virgin Oak
$52.99
From Deanston Distillery in the Highlands - This is a no age statement single malt scotch finished in virgin oak casks and bottled at a generous 46.3% ABV.
Arran Sauterne Cask Finish
$87.99
Part of the Arran Cask Finish line, this whisky started in ex-Bourbon casks, and was finished in ex-Sauternes Wine Bariques. 50%
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
$89.99
Casks were much smaller in the 19th C. than today. They gradually grew as the industry did, the larger casks being more cost-effective. But something was lost in the switch to big. The smaller casks gave the whisky up to 60% more exposure to oak thereby intensifying the maturation process. Laphroaig has recreated this style by transferring still maturing whisky into quarter casks for finishing.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
$154.99
The Corryvreckan started out as a replacement for the Airigh Nam Beist but has become a legend in its own right. The whisky has a unique sweet and spicy twist which blends well with the whisky's peaty maritime backbone. Bottled at 57.1% this whisky is often amongst the highest scoring with whisky critics and reviewers. It gets its sweet and spicy characteristics from the French oak in which some of the vatting is matured.
Bunnahabhain 12 Year
$83.99
A few years back Bunnahabhain bumped their strength up to 46.3%, bottling it without colouring or chill-filtering. This is the entry level bottling of the Bunnahabhain Distillery, known as the "Gentle Giant of Islay." Bunnahabhain's whisky is generally unpeated, bucking the trend of most Islay distilleries, though it does also produce peated malts. Bunnahabhain is the anchor whisky of the Black Bottle Blend.
Producer Description
"As the original member of our current Core Range, Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old holds a special place in our hearts. First launched in 1979, the Bunnahabhain 12 year old has endured almost 40 years, thanks to the passion and dedication of our distillery team, not to mention the love and support from our fans and friends around the world.
"Our 12 Year Old has set the tone and the benchmark for the rest of the range – only the best will do. Double Matured in Ex Bourbon and Ex Sherry Casks, this whisky is beautifully rich and full-bodied, achieving the perfect balance of the characteristic nutty and sherry flavours of Bunnahabhain."
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
$114.99
The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban recently evolved from a 12 year old, into a 14 Year. Matured initially in ex-Bourbon, the wine is finished in Port casks before bottling at 46%. This whisky is replete with notes of chocolate and orange, which is derived from the finishing in port casks.
Producer Tasting Note
Aroma: Dark mint chocolate and Seville oranges mingle with sandalwood and walnut, with a spicy finish of pepper and nutmeg.
Taste: Mint chocolate and walnuts envelop the palate, laying the foundations for rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.
Finish: Long-lasting, silky aftertaste leaving dark chocolate mints and traces of orange.
Andrew's Tasting Note - on the 12 Year
Nose: dried cherry and cranberry leap out of the glass; some musty old wood with dark chocolate, prune juice and cooked dates.
Palate: big, nutty and wood; more dark chocolate with some firm old leather and sweet Cuban tobacco; the musty old wood is still there with some licorice nibs and decadent spice.
Finish: medium-long and warming; the spicy oak holds on with a touch of chilli heat.
Comment: I forgot how interesting this whisky is; I am not generally a fan of Port matured or finished whiskies, but this one is good!
From the Distillery: "Extra maturation in these port pipes develops Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban into a voluptuous spirit with a complex balance of sweet and dry flavours and an intriguing contrast of smooth and crisp, cooling textures. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel."
Producer Description
"Dr Bill, our Director of Whisky Creation, was born with a taste for adventure. And with this single malt he sought to create a whisky as unpredictable as his travels. Quinta Ruban is a whisky journey into the wild – a dark and delectable forest where the wind whistles with gusts of peppermint and dark swirls of chocolate can happen at any moment.
"In our giraffe-high stills, it begins soft and fruity, then gets darker and deeper as we let it age for 14 years in bourbon casks and port casks from Portugal. The finished whisky is a thicket of voluptuous flavour combinations. Walnut and black pepper. Mandarin orange and melted marshmallow. Dark chocolate bar and peppermint. And, like stepping into a chocolate-minty-orange unknown, the journey is as delicious as the destination."
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Glenmorangie Lasanta 43%
$104.99
The whisky begins with a base of the same spirit that goes into Glenmorangie Original, 10 year old whisky matured exclusively in American oak Ex-Bourbon casks. The whisky is then finished for 2 years in Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain.
From the Distillery: Lasanta is Gaelic for warmth and passion, a reminder not just of the Spanish provenance of these Oloroso sherry butts, but also a reflection of this expressions lusciously soft texture and deep, enticingly sweet aroma.Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel."
Distiller's Tasting Note:
Aroma: Warm spices mix with smooth chocolate covered raisins, honeycomb and caramel toffee.
Taste: Deliciously sweet sherry flavoured sultanas, orange segments, walnuts and butterscotch combine to create complex warm spices.
Finish: Long and satisfying finish with spiced orange and chocolate covered hazelnuts.
Amrut Spectrum 004
$219.99
Amrut's innovative Spectrum is back... Bottled at 50% the whisky is initially matured in ex-Bourbon before finishing in custom casks made with new American Oak, new French Oak, ex-Oloroso and ex-PX Sherry staves.
Producer Description
"To make the Spectrum 004, a two-part maturation technique has been employed, the first being maturation of new make spirit in ex-Bourbon casks followed by transferring the aged spirit into the custom barrels. The custom barrels are made with 4 different kinds of staves, new American Oak with Char level 3, new French Oak with light toasting, ex-Oloroso staves and ex-PX Sherry staves. The aforementioned barrel has equal proportions of all four kinds of staves are ranged in a one after-the-other manner lending their own characteristics and complexities to the malt coming into its own on the nose and the palate."
Talisker Port Ruighe
$119.99
Bottled at 45.8% from whisky matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in Ruby Port casks.
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Instant, very well balanced, and sweet, yet not cloying; overall, rather like the sweet smokiness of a fading wood fire with the fruity richness of ripe plums.
Palate: Sublime, smoky and savoury: spicy pepper rapidly grows into peatiness, as a creamy smokiness mingles with spice and dark fruits.
Finish: Long, memorable, and mouth-filling, leaving on the tongue an appealing and intense cocoa-rich drying smokiness.
Distiller's Description: "Double matured in port casks, this malt is a toast to the Scottish traders who braved the high seas and were instrumental in the foundation of the port wine trade. Port Ruighe, pronounced ‘Portree’ is the Gaelic spelling of the once-bustling trading port on Skye. The port finish combines Talisker’ s powerful maritime character with succulent sweet notes of rich berry fruits for a superb taste experience."
