Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
An inviting nose where barbeque smoke and cloves are intermingled with fresh notes of butterscotch and orange peel. On the pallet a fascinating blend of Applewood smoke, honey and all spice are married with stewed pears and fresh grilled pineapple. This whiskey finishes with the return of a savoury smoke over a lingering wood undertone, which combines delightfully with notes of salted caramel.
Glenglassaugh Torfa Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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
Bladnoch Vinaya Single Malt Scotch Whisky
At the time of writing, 'Vinaya' is the distillery’s widest release since the Lowland project was resurrected by Australian, David Prior and Head Distiller Dr. Nick Savage in 2015. The name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ' respect and gratitude'. Says Dr.Savage, “As we embark on the 204th year of Bladnoch, the launch of Vinaya feels particularly significant. It is important for us to show gratitude to the previous custodians of this historic brand and estate as we move forward into our most ambitious year yet.” As for the whisky, it's matured in first fill ex-Bourbon and first fill ex-Sherry casks, which is a new combination for Bladnoch. Pale gold in colour, Vinaya is a bit sleepy on the nose, but teases out light apple, pear and vanilla. It's a spritely and youngish tasting malt with a faint backdrop of orchard fruits, developing richness on the back palate but overall remaining relatively tight, crisp and brisk, placing this in the realm of aperitifs. It's also one of the most affordable in the line up, so if you're looking to introduce yourself to Bladnoch's house style, start here. 46.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Arran Quarter The Bothy Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Tasting note: Matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels for seven years before being transferred to smaller 125 litre Quarter casks for a further two years. The process amplifies the impact of the wood. Fumey alcohol gives way to hints of dried coconut, raisin chocolate, pine needles and a vaguely cider-like fruitiness. It's a big, chewy malt with a fabulous fanning flavour rush and impressive control. Summer pudding and vanilla come through on the finish before the aftertaste ends crisp and pleasingly astringent. Delicious. 56.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Whilst many Australian whisky enthusiasts are familiar with the traditional sherried bottlings from Aberlour distillery, many parts of Europe are privy to its more curious variants which combine whiskies derived from both sherry and bourbon casks, varying in proportion. We have sourced a small quantity of these relatively unknown expressions just to showcase what this distillery capable of.
Lindores MCDXCIV Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Lindores Abbey is the officially recognised site of the first recorded distillation of Scotch whisky. It was back in 1494 that King James IV commissioned Brother John Cor at Lindores Abbey to make aqua vitae with eight bolls of malt. For more than 100 years, the preservation of the ruined abbey has fallen to Drew McKenzie-Smith and his family. Several years ago he learned of the abbey’s significance to the industry after visiting a website called Connoisseur Scotland . Further inspiration came when he was shown a copy of the late Michael Jackson’s book, ' Scotland and Its Whiskies .' In it, Jackson wrote of Lindores, “For the whisky lover it is a pilgrimage”. Following fifteen years of careful planning, construction work began on a new distillery that would not only capitalise on this whisky connection but also provide the means with which to preserve the abbey for future generations. In 2017, after five centuries of silence, the stills at Lindores Abbey began flowing again. There are actually two releases now in Australia: Lindores MCDXCIV and the MCDXCIV Commemorative First Release. They're essentially the same liquid, distinguished by a subtle notation on the label. Both come aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and STR red wine barriques from Burgundy. Both are three and a half year old Lowlanders. You might expect Lindores to be on the lighter side, however it's more like a young Speysider, nicely balanced and not shy on flavour. There's even a nod to Linkwood on the nose where the aromas show surprising weight; Cream tea biscuits, pear drops, light beeswax, cocoa and citrus are echoed with impressive purity, depth and texture of the palate. A fine astringency checks the length, but it's auspicious as far as inaugural releases go - all that's needed is more time to add further layers of complexity. 46% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 15ml sample.
Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey
Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey is the quintessential example of premium Irish Whiskey, and considered to be the purest form of the art. With a history dating back to 1903 when John Jameson & Company entered into an agreement with Gilbeys Wines & Spirits Import Company to supply new make whiskey which was then 'bonded' in old sherry and port casks. Single Pot Still whiskey is unique to Ireland and this exciting example is crafted from both malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in a traditional copper still. The result is a whiskey of unrivalled richness, complexity and smoothness. Hints of creaminess on the finish round out an true Irish Whiskey of pedigree.
Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Pot still is an equipment used to distill spirits. It is a slower process and had to be done in batches in a single distillery. Green Spot is an Irish whiskey that mixed pot still whiskeys aged between 7 and 10 years, in order to find the perfect balance on the smell and taste. It opens up with notes of orchard fruits, sweet spices and toasty oak. Full body and a lasting pleasant finish with flavours of warm spices and barley.
Talisker Skye Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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.
Pearse Lyons Founder's Choice 12 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey
A 12 Year Old Single Malt aged in bourbon casks for 12 years giving the whiskey a honied sweetness, rich vanilla, oak spices and a herbal undertone. On the nose this Whiskey gives a natural honied sweetness with rich vanilla, oak spices and a herbal undertone. These notes develop to orchard fruits of white peach, apple & pear. The taste offers citrus hints of lemon, dried orange and a touch of honeysuckle. These flavours will evolve giving way to a silky vanilla palate with a tingle of spiced pear and warming notes of ginger and clove to finish.