The Teeling Whiskey Wonders of Wood (WOW) Single Pot Still is a new limited edition series of unique bottlings of Dublin distilled Single Pot Still given maturation in unique wood barrels. The first edition of our WOW bottlings, which was honoured as the Worlds Best, consists of Single Pot Still crafted from a recipe of 50% malted barley and 50% un-malted barley, which has been triple distilled in the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin and then fully matured in virgin Chinkapin American White Oak barrels. The First Edition of this new WOW series is limited to 9,000 bottles globally.

LARK DISTILLERY Legacy 20 Years Old Single Malt Whisky Cask HHF584 68.6% ABV, Tasmania

The newest, oldest whisky to join Ardbeg's core range is an impressively packaged 25 year old, an age statement not seen since the 'Lord of the Isles' bottlings over a decade ago. It's also the oldest permanent addition to the brand, distilled in the 1990s, and available in limited quantities due to its age and rarity. Readers should note that very little whisky was produced at the distillery in the middle '90s. Ardbeg’s production halted in 1981, then resumed in 1989 under Hiram Walker but remained at a low level until late 1996. Most Ardbeg enthusiasts will have tasted little from this distillery's 'quiet period'. Hence, this first edition represents a genuine slice of Islay history. Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s chief whisky creator, comments: “After a quarter of a century in the cask, you’d be forgiven for imagining that Ardbeg 25 Years Old would have lost some of the hallmark smoky punch. I can assure you it hasn’t.... And yet there’s also a remarkable complexity and elegance to this whisky that I find utterly captivating. It’s unmistakably Ardbeg, but unlike any Ardbeg you’ve tasted before.” Strikingly presented in a gun metal coloured bottle, Ardbeg 25 comes housed in a case featuring a modern metallic take on the classic Ardbeg knotwork, symbolic of the untamed complexity of this extraordinary whisky. Notes from Ardbeg... smoked cream, peppermint, toffee, fennel and pine resin on the nose, leading to a ‘vibrant, hot peppery mouthfeel’ with flavours of sherbet lemon, carbolic soap and tar, creamy toffee, aniseed and chilli pepper. The finish is said to be long, mellow and lingering, with cream, fudge and antiseptic notes. Non chill filtered. 46% Alc./Vol.

Originally, Black bush was known as “Old Bushmills Special Old Liqueur Whiskey”, so named because of the unique distilling process and the fact that it was aged in Oloroso Sherry casks, optimising its smoothness. As the whiskey gained popularity it was asked for by avid devotees as “Black Bush”, a shortened term of the original brand name combined with reference to the distinguished black label. Malt whiskey that becomes Black Bush is aged up to 11 years in selected sherry-seasoned oak casks before being blended with a small portion of a special single grain whiskey to enhance the independent, non-conformist character of the malt.The malt used in the mash derives its clean taste from the deliberate absence of peat used in the malted barley drying process. All of the Irish whiskey distilleries kiln-dry their malt in a heat-fired, not peat-fired, oven. This drying process lets the clean, clear taste of the malt and barley shine through, creating the ultimate ' Reflection of Perfection.' The combination is then returned to the cask for 'marrying.' As the whiskeys mellow together, the uniquely rounded bouquet, rich amber hue and distinctive taste of Black Bush is born. 'Highly Recommended...' 'A full, sweet nose brimful with nutty butter toffee and a hint of sherry wood. Refreshingly green mid-palate, this is a very soft and elegantly balanced whiskey that floats over the palate. A complex amalgam of malt and sherry wood bound together by a rich smooth fruitiness.' -Decanter Magazine.

“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.

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