2014 marks another benchmark with "Torfa" - the first peated whisky from this revived distillery, fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels and peated to 20ppm. It takes its name from the Old Norse language with which the Scots dialect spoken in North East Scotland has an affinity and translates to “turf” or “peat”. Non-chill filtered. Natural colour. Retasted April 2018... Bright gold. White pepper and sweet earthy phenols combine with beeswax and biscuity malt; more cocoa / dark chocolate-like after extended time in the glass. A full bodied, succulent delivery with toasted barley, hints of fruit and a superb slathering of sweet peat. Melts in your mouth with near zero heat, the buzzing spices ricocheting through the finish. Uncomplicated but very pure. Beautiful malt. 50% Alc./Vol. First tasted April 2014... Pale straw gold. Opening sniff detects hints of vanilla wafer biscuit, dried grass and white pepper; more cocoa like after exposure as mild peat infuses dark chocolate, accentuating with time in the glass. Quite sweet but remains in check with the mid palate featuring juicy vanilla malt and the finish highlighting the peat as wet-wool / lanolin. Controlled spices add length and continue into an attractive choc-peat fade. Smokey, but in an accessible Caol Ila kind of way. Nicely done. 93 points

"One for no age statement naysayers... Eloquent & beautiful." - whiskyadvocate.com Back in 2015, Nikka announced they were discontinuing their age statement and No Age Statement (NAS) releases for the Yoichi and Miyagikyo labels and consolidating them into two new bottlings. These whiskies have now arrived in Australia. Two NAS versions that differ slightly to the previous versions now represent the entire portfolio. It was yet another move that triggered a buying rush. Reports have it that Tokyo is now pretty much out of age statement Japanese whiskies, unless you visit bars or auction houses. Nikka's reasons for the radical new strategy are now familiar. They simply have no old stocks to sell. Decades ago, both local and world demand for Japanese malts was low, so few barrels were being laid down for extended periods. Stefan Van Eycken, writing for www.nonjatta.com explains "...there were years, at both Yoichi and Miyagikyo distillery, when the barrels laid down for maturation could be counted on the fingers of one hand. The ‘stock shortage’ is not an excuse or a PR stunt – it’s very real. Sources within Nikka have said that it is ‘likely’ that age-statement single malts will be brought back in 5 or 6 years’ time. No official statement to that effect has been made for the simple reason that doing so – in Japan – would be interpreted as a promise (which could come back to haunt them in 6 years’ time)." The dropping of age statements doesn't always translate into a drop in quality. Early reviews for both releases have been very positive. Evidently, Chief blender Tadashi Sakuma has risen to the challenge of creating a great assemblage from a restricted inventory.

Double matured in port casks, this malt is a toast to the Scottish traders who braved the high seas and were instrumental in founding the port wine trade, shipping it to the world. '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 contrasting taste experience.

This special Laphroaig is crafted from carefully selected casks from each of the distillery's key styles - with one notable addition. The heart of this single malt is drawn from a final maturation in new American Oak casks, a rarity used for Scotch whisky maturation. With spirit selected by the master distiller from Quarter Cask, PX Cask and Triple Wood (European Oak casks) and a final addition of 10 Year Old, the whisky represents a subtle blending of peat, oak and sweetness. This is a full-bodied expression, featuring Laphroaig's trademark 'peat reek' matched by an additional layer of complexity and depth brought about by the fusion of the maturation styles and different oaks.

One by one, The Last Great Malts of Scotland will leave their distillery gates. From Scotland's 'Bermuda Triangle' comes a mysterious and rare Single Malt, for over a century only sold in limited quantities to collectors. Bottled to celebrate the brightness of the barley and crystal clarity of the wood sugar, balanced with grassy, herbal notes. Delicately aged for 12 years. The smoothest example on Speyside, this classic, fruity style with no peat smoke has been distilled since 1897, yet only tasted by a few.

Established in 2005, Kilchoman (pronounced Kilhoman) is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. Based on a farm on the rugged west coast of Islay, Kilchoman is the first distillery to be built on the Island for 125 years. Matured in a combination of both Bourbon and Sherry casks, Kilchoman Machir Bay is a well-balanced combination of rich tropical fruit, peat smoke, light vanilla and intense sweetness.

The Kilchoman Sanaig Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky presents soft cooked fruits with caramel and vanilla on the nose along with toffee, peat smoke and a lingering sweetness on the palate. The finish is a lovely balance of peat smoke, fruit and sweetness.

The Isle of Skye is renowned for its rich, varied landscape from its soft, serene shores to the dark, jagged peaks of the Cuillin mountains. Talisker Skye is the distillerys ode to these appealing contrasts, with a smoky sweetness, maritime notes, and a spicy edge.Best served in a Rocks Glass, neat or with a little water.

This Islay Rebel meets a rum cask cousin in a rush of explosive flavour. Bursting with fiery peat smoke, burnt marshmallows and softened with caramelised fruit. An epic taste adventure.