Tasting note: Made from 100% Arabica beans (reportedly, some other brands rely on artificial flavouring). Fabulous burnt umber appearance is thick and glass staining. Issues aromas of freshly roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate and vanilla. The tequila base is more salient in the mouth, with a creamed-up texture that’s akin to coffee flavoured milk with a splash of tequila and dark chocolate for good measure. Excellent sweet-dry balance. Impressive. 34% Alc./Vol.

Johnnie Walker Double Black is a full-bodied whisky, with an intense smoky character and layers of spice, inspired by our iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label. Strongly influenced by powerful West Coast and Island whiskies it's an impressive choice and ideal for sharing, whatever the occasion.

Tasting note: Amber gold. Gently warming aromas of vanilla wafer, crème caramel, pineapple pudding and honey with a delicate lift, following through to a light to medium bodied, cream-textured rum suggesting flavours of caramelised fruits, tea biscuits, gentle spice and trace molasses to finish. Sweet, smooth sipping. 40% Alc./Vol.

"I have tasted some superb Penderyn Celts over the years. But this one is in a Welsh league of its own." - Jim Murray This gently smokey Penderyn is finished in ex-peated quarter casks. Jim Murray clearly adores these expressions.

Rye is a whiskey perhaps best known as the backbone of cocktails like the Manhattan, Sazerac and Old-Fashioned, however the last few decades has seen it re-gain traditional ground over bourbon and Tennessee whiskey as a standalone spirit. Among the more fanatical of the recent protagonists are the team behind Whistle Pig. First released in the summer of 2010 to great critical acclaim, their rye received 96 points from Wine Enthusiast, the highest rating ever for a rye whiskey, as well as a “highest recommendation” from Spirits Journal, plus accolades from The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Forbes, Maxim, Imbibe Magazine, and many others. For Australian rye whiskey enthusiasts, it became one the most awaited releases of the year. The key figure behind production is David Pickerell. Fourteen years Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark in Loretto, Kentucky, a luminary of whiskey knowledge and one of the nation’s pre-eminent distillers, he arrived at Whistle Pig with a simple objective: To create the world's finest rye. "You cannot get more flavour in whiskey than you can with rye" , enthuses Pickerell. "The bad news? From a business standpoint, it takes longer to age rye whiskey. Rye is stubborn and robust. It has spicy character, and a dark, rich flavour. To attain its signature smoothness, rye must be aged (a minimum of 9 years is ideal). Rye isn’t sweet. In fact, it contains less sugar than any other grain. The challenges involved in producing rye whiskey are many. But when handled properly, there is no comparison." Pickerell illustrates the difference between rye and bourbon in food terms. "Think of the sweet flavour of a fluorescent yellow cornbread that you nosh with BBQ" , he explains. "Now imagine the earthy, spicy, powerfully brooding flavour of rye bread or pumpernickel used at a gourmet sandwich shop". These differences that express themselves in bread also come across through the distillation process. We tend to agree. Pure, aged rye tends to be more flavourful and complex than almost any corn-based whiskey. Rye is also conducive to sustainable agriculture. It grows densely enough to exclude weeds, keeping the need for herbicides to a minimum, and it's an excellent scavenger of soil-bound nitrogen, rendering heavy fertilisation unnecessary. Up until recently, Whistle Pig's rye was been distilled and matured in Western Canada (reputedly sourced from the Alberta Premium distillery), then bottled in Vermont, making them a ‘non-distiller producer’ or NDP like Willett, Jefferson's or Angel's Envy. In the summer of 2014, after a three year legal process, the company finally obtained a permit to construct a farm-style distillery, with all the rye grown on site. They continue to use new American Oak or early use bourbon barrels for all their maturation. Retasted September 2020... Opens with orange zest developing aromas of oily rye, cumin, peppermint and anise ending with grainstore, new leather, vanilla and chocolate box. A full and oily attack; muddled mint and herbal tones combine with chewy grains; white pepper builds through the finish. Leaves you with peaches and cream. Oily, delicious, vibrant and long. Delivers the mouthfeel of a single malt while maintaining the distinctive qualities of rye. 50% Alc./Vol. First tasted February 2015 [20ml sample] Bright gold. Somewhat muted with vanilla accents... more definitive aromas of rye bread and cigar box follow. Relatively sweet and sedate; juicy rye is beautifully harmonised with the oak. Love the texture. Fabulous balance. Cedar and cigar box, then hints of peppermint through the aftertaste. 93 points

From the pristine lagoons to the lush jungles, Plantation Isle of Fiji is an ode to the beauty of the Fiji Islands. Molasses-based and made using both pot and column stills at the Fiji Distillery, including local Fijian sugar cane, the liquid was first aged in the tropical climate in bourbon casks for three years, then sailed to the southwest of France for twelve months finishing in French oak. This double ageing method paired with Fijian know-how creates a rum with warm notes of exotic fruits and raisins. 40% Alc./Vol. Notes from the producers... Color : Gold. Nose : Intense, it starts on molasses, pear and varnish. It then becomes fruitier and spicier on apple, banana and gooseberry, also nutmeg and vanilla with a hint of smoke. Palate : Rich and round, it follows the nose with vanilla fudge, honey, ginger and fruity notes of prune and coconut. Finish : Very long on dried banana, bourbon and allspice. Empty glass : Molasses, oak and allspice.

Essentially a minted version of Fernet Branca, being based on the same recipe as the original including an assortment of 40 ingredients such as aloe, gentian, chamomile, angelica, chincona, colombo root, chinese rhubarb, myrrh, peppermint, saffron and iris. Branca Menta adds to the equation more sugar and peppermint oil. Recommended with a splash of soda over ice. 28% Alc./Vol.

Chopin Wheat is the third of three premium vodka's now produced at the Podlaska Wytwórnia Wódek Polmos distillery in Poland, which also include Potato and Rye. Each release aims to showcase the unique textures and flavours found through production of each primary ingredient, as opposed to total neutrality. This edition is crafted from 100% Polish wheat.