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.
The Singleton OF GLEN ORD Special Release The Enchantress of the Ruby Solstice 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Non-Vintage
The Singleton Of Glen Ord Special Release 2022 The Enchantress of the Ruby Solstice 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 54.2% ABV, The Highlands This stellar 2022 Special Release from Singleton shows just how special whisky can be when double matured in the finest wine-seasoned casks. The result is mesmerising malt, in which beguiling, subtle wine-fruit notes entwine seductively with the layered, smooth, and rich distillery character.
Glendronach Traditionally Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
A Glendronach that pays homage to the earthy peat-smoked character of early 19th century Highland malts. Matured in Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Oloroso Sherry and Port casks. Comes non chill filtered and bottled at 48% Alc./Vol.
KOVAL
This whiskey set from KOVAL is a clever way to discover three of their Organic whiskies (Rye, Millet, Four Grain) without having to purchase three large bottles. Its perfect for gifting or for a whisky night.
Glen Moray 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
The Glen Moray 18 year old is a beautiful addition to the Glen Moray Heritage range. Only the very finest American oak barrels have been selected to emphasise the incredibly smooth character and taste of Glen Moray 18 year Single Malt. An intense whisky with a perfect structure, the soft flavours of sweet vanilla balanced with oak from the casks.
Launceston Single Malt Whisky Bourbon
Drawing from twelve small American Oak casks; a light engaging whisky with fragrant aromas, double distilled and non-chill filtered to retain depth of character. Colour Rich dark gold.Nose Bright fragrant aromas with hints of vanilla, honey and pears.Taste A soft mouthfeel with subtle sweet bourbon notes, vanilla, honey and green fruit.Finish A pleasant, smooth and lingering finish. The Distillery at Hangar 17Launceston Distillery produce hand-crafted, small-batch whisky. Using traditional techniques and craftsmanship, head distiller Chris Condon uses Tasmanian malted barley and pure river water to produce the finest quality single malt whisky.From grain to bottle everything happens under the roof of Hangar 17, neighbouring Launceston Airport.
Fleurieu Distillery Albatross Single Malt Whisky
The wandering storm bird. Said to be the souls of lost sailors, these roaming aeronauts glide endlessly over the vast and sometimes inhospitable Southern Ocean. Seen as an omen of both good luck and bad, these occasional visitors to our shores perfectly embody grace endurance and fragility.
Kavalan Distillery Select No 1 Single Malt Taiwanese Whisky
A new Kavalan that showcases the distillery's signature fruity sweetness. If you're used to the cask strength bottlings, think of this as Kavalan 'Light'. Tasting note: Deep copper colour. The aroma pretty much matches the flavours, evoking tropical fruits, bush honey, toasted sponge cake and a gingery warmth. Medium bodied and made for casual drinking, the finish buzzes with cinnamon and all-spice, followed by a touch of orange zest and cocoa. The result comes across like Sherry-meets-European oak-meets-Bourbon combined with Kavalan's own unique fruity spirit - an arrangement that should find broad appeal. 40% Alc./Vol.
Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch Whisky
“The elemental opposite of the sophisticated Lord of the Isles.” Perched on a wave washed, rocky headland, the Ardbeg distillery was founded in 1815 by the MacDougalls of Ardbeg. The distilleries scattered white washed buildings are reminiscent of a Dutch settlement and add to the dramatic coastal landscape. Ardbeg has had a chequered history and in recent times had been closed down for many years. Glenmorangie acquired Ardbeg in 1997 and has set about restoring the distillery to its former glory. First launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) this cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg is produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives this whisky a velvety texture, with a sweet and smokey finish. Tasting notes: Bright gold appearance. Big, sweet sherry influenced nose offers dried apricot and marmalade scents over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. Excellent balance at cask strength. Boiled lolly and spice aftertaste with a subtle spearmint fade. Latest batch tasted October 2010.
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt Japanese Whisky
"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.