The once mothballed Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay is better known for its idiosyncratic and eclectic range of single malts. Now they’re making a gin that’s the talk of the town. Mark Reynier, one of the key instigators in this distillery’s recent revival, explains, “Botanist gin came about because we are curious about distilling. For us it is not a question of merely pushing buttons, we like to test our distilling skills, we are intrigued. With Trestaraig and X4 we have explored triple and quadruple distillation, so with a Lomond still that we had liberated from Inverleven in 2003, we were wondering how to use it. It was an experimental still, the first of its kind and now the last”. The resulting gin uses nine of the classic gin aromatics – orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, etc – and augments these with a heady harvest of 22 wild, native island botanicals, hand-picked by Bruichladdich’s expert foraging team from the windswept hills, peat bogs and atlantic shores of this Hebridean island of Islay. These include wild Islay Juniper, Elderflower, Bog Myrtle, Tansy, Hawthorn Flower, Birch Leaves, White Clover, Sweet Cicely and Lady's Bedstraw, amongst others. This truly seasonal and exotic cocktail is then slow "simmer" distilled in the lomond pot-still, nicknamed "ugly betty". Head distiller, Jim McEwan explains, “Betty prefers to work at low-pressure and won’t be rushed. So our precious botanicals are slowly and gently coaxed into releasing their complex, signature aromatics. Jim says he had to "learn a new dance" with Betty, and none of us knew what to expect from that first, achingly-slow 17 hour distillation. The result: a highly distinctive, complex, floral gin with outstanding finish and impeccable provenance. In an age of re-badged industrial gins, the Botanist stands out as a truly artisanal, small-batch, hand-crafted labour of love and distiller's art. A breath of botanical Islay in every glass. Tasting note: [30ml sample] Crystal clear, slightly viscous appearance. Powerful bouquet opens with fresh juniper and thyme followed by orange peel, coriander and pine. Excellent complexity and purity. Medium dry, concentrated profile delivers a creamy-yet-peppery mouthfeel with a nice balance between citrus peel and juniper. Orange peel on the finish leads into a subtle, persistent peppermint / eucalypt aftertaste. Great stuff - and if you're mixing, it lends a lovely creaminess to G&T’s. 46% Alc./Vol.

Our heavily awarded Hills & Harbour Gin delivers a vibrant and smooth taste of the forests and coastline of Galloway, elegantly packaged in an innovative and eco-friendly bottle. With local Noble Fir needles and Bladderwrack Seaweed, it leads with juniper and is balanced with hints of forest fir, tropical fruit, citrus spice, tangy sherbet and a subtle scent of the shore. One of the rare gins in Scotland to be distilled with our own spirit, we take local wheat and water combine in our 7-day fermentation process to create maximum character and mouth feel. This process takes more time, energy, cost, and know-how, but delivering a gin that lives up to the true meaning of ‘craft’ is essential for us.

Rounded and smoky - like burning Applewood - with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates. A curious suggestion of juicy fruits, such as peach and banana. With a drop of water, reminders of Ardbeg's classic fragrance lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. A gentle waxiness, like fragrant candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs. An Oa gives a final subtle reminder of the sea with briny notes and seaweed but always accompanied with creaminess. A smooth, creamy texture leads into a huge syrupy sweetness, flavours of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, sweet spices (nutmeg & cinnamon), some cigar smoke, and a very unusual flavour of grilled artichokes. Wood is always present in the spirit, gently nutty and reminiscent of a carpenter's workshop. A long, sweet finish, with floral overtones, mint toffee and some gentle malty biscuit notes.

Westons Stowford Press is made from real cider apples and fermented for up to 6 months. This cider reflects an outstanding superiority with a sumptuous apple aroma and flavour with a medium to dry finish. A very clean natural fresh pallet develops from the first taste. No overextended carbonation helps create a sense of abounding flavour of quality.

Johnnie Walker Green Label Scotch is a blend of entirely Single Malts and has aromas of smoky vanilla oak, pepper, fresh cut grass and sandalwood on the nose. Rich mouthfeel with a delicate earthiness are balanced through to a lingering malty aftertaste. Sophisticated and full of finesse. Great to enjoy neat or on the rocks.

Chivas Regal Extra is a new, exceptionally rich and generous Chivas Regal blend positioned between Chivas Regal 12 year old and Chivas 18 year old. It is crafted using a higher proportion of whiskies matured in sherry casks to deliver richer and more intense flavours incorporating a selection of our rare malt whiskies.

An award winner, this tripled distilled in a copper pot and macerated for 3 days using 14 Australian native botanicals (plus 1 non-native). This unique flavoured Gin provides a hint of juniper to start off and then the intensity of the other flavours start to come through. Lemon, mint and then a boom of herbaceousness topped off by a peppery after note.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a rich, dark mysterious gold colour with a nose reminiscent of relaxing in an old leather armchair while eating walnuts and chocolate covered raisins. The flavour is sweet initially with orange segments dipped in liquid chocolate. Then a lovely flavour of burnt brown sugar at the back of the mouth The finish is dry oozing with big tannins and more richdark cocoa beans. Let the whisky breathe a little or add a drop or two of water to fully open up the dram

One by one, The Last Great Malts of Scotland will leave their distillery gates. Deemed the bad boy of Speyside, Craigellachie is an unapologetically unique and challenging Single Malt. This is a complex dram, packed with flavour and texture. 13 Years Old, from an 1891 distillery. Bottled at a punchy 46% ABV. A stubborn, sulphurous single malt, condensed in rusted worm tubs on an inhospitable rocky bluff.

Compass Box Whisky's The Peat Monster combines smoky and peaty single malts from the island of Islay and the Isle of Mull with rich, medium-peated Speyside whisky. The result is, as you would except, a peaty and smoky delight with rich citrus notes of liquorice and spicy, sweet complexity. Balanced and highly drinkable this is a very approachable blended malt monster, but a monster nonetheless. Lovers of big, rich, smoky-peaty whiskies, this is for you.