Kitajima Sake Brewery was established in 1805 and is one of Japan's oldest and most respected sake breweries, situated in the beautiful Shiga Prefecture near lake Biwa. Their highly crafted range is unique and distinctive with a palate that is much richer and fruitier than the average sake. Named after the great Biwa Lake in the Shiga prefecture, the largest lake in Japan, The Whale of Biwa Lake Sake is made from Koji Rice and is polished at 70%, pasteurised and non-filtered. This Junmai sake is rich, fruity and delicious. The distinctive richness of raw koji-rice lingers on the palate and gives way to notes of plum, banana and pear.

Kilchoman Distillery was established in 2005 and is true to Islay's rich farm distilling heritage. The distillery uses local peat cut in the traditional way, slowly distilling all spirits by hand, allowing maturation to occur in traditional dunnage warehouses, and bottling on site without any colouring or chill-filtration. A limited-edition single malt from Kilchoman, Casado takes its name from the Portuguese word for marriage. Initially matured in 38 first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, it was then married in a pair of Portuguese red wine vats for two years before it was bottled. On the nose bonfire smoke with dried apricot, Dr. Pepper, and some coastal salinity as well notes of marzipan and toffee apples underneath. On the palate black pepper is cracked over smoked fish as well as lemon peel, tannic wood and stone fruits. There's a sweet jammy element present throughout. The finish is aromatic spices and red berry tartness that linger.

Moët & Chandon’s vines grow on terroirs in the heart of the Champagne region, characterized by their unique geology and climate. Moët Impérial is the House’s iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon’s unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity. Created from more than 100 different wines, of which 20% to 30% are reserve wines specially selected to enhance its maturity, complexity and constancy, the assemblage reflects the diversity and complementarity of the three grapes varietals, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Moët & Chandon Ice Rose Impérial is the first and only rosé champagne especially created to be enjoyed on ice. A new champagne tasting experience that brings together pleasure, freshness and the free spirit of summer time. The profile of each wine was meticulously chosen for its specific contribution to the assemblage. With a majority of Pinot Noir (45-55%) chosen for both the intensity of the fruit and the structural integration of the dosage, Pinot Meunier (35-45%) to add richness and middle notes of harmony and suppleness, with a small amount of Chardonnay for polished acidity and a refreshing finish. 20% to 30% of especially selected reserve wines round out the assemblage by enhancing its intensity, richness and consistency. Vivid pink with golden highlights and a vibrant, fruity bouquet with scents of fragrant red berries and cherries, nuances of fig and nectarine and an appetizing note of grenadine. The lucious palate combines sweetness and firmness. The sweetness reminiscent of berries disperses and becomes lighter, a harmonious balance of fruitiness and freshness with a deliciously bittersweet note of pink grapefruit to finish.

The fall of communism in Hungary saw many new beginnings, and one of note for wine lovers was the formation of The Royal Tokaji Company by wine-writer Hugh Johnson, and a consortium of foreign investors with the sole vision of revitalising the magnificent sweet wines of Hungary. The Royal Tokaji Company today is a benchmark for the noble wines of the region, from their 3 Puttonyos wines at around 60-90 grams per litre of residual sugar through to the intense Essencia at 450-850 grams, they are wines that offer the drinker a unique insight to one of the great wine styles of the world. Fine quality Aszú berries with good structure and perfect botrytis were macerated in fermenting must for two days. After pressing and finishing fermentation the wines were filled into 300 and 500 litre Hungarian oak casks in our extensive, deep, underground cellars to mature for over two years. The final blends were carefully crafted in the spring of 2020. Bottled at 189 grams of residual sugar per litre. Rich intense nose with hints of orange peel and spice. Very fine and elegant wine, full-flavoured with vibrant acidity, citrus and peach on the palate with a long, balanced finish. Summer was hot, so we began the Aszú berry harvest in early September and continued to pick steadily in the ideal autumn weather. In particular October provided three textbook weeks for the development of fine quality Aszú, with day after day of early morning mists, afternoon sunshine and drying winds. The Aszú wines show great structure, plenty of botrytis, depth and freshness with excellent complexity, all attributes of long ageing potential.

Distilled in London at Thames Distillers, Fords Gin is a collaboration between 10th generation master distiller Charles Maxwell and gin expert Simon Ford. A modern take on a classic London Dry Gin, Fords Gin starts with a traditional base of juniper & coriander seed balanced by citrus, florals and spices that are steeped for 15 hours before being distilled. Each botanical blends together to create the perfect base for any gin-inspired cocktail. A mix of 9 botanicals including Juniper, Coriander, Lemon Peel, Bitter Orange Peel, Grapefruit Peel, Angelica, Cassia, Jasmine and Orris. is a very bright and aromatic gin with a light sweetness on tip of the tongue. A gentle introduction of the botanicals follows with notes of angelica root and citrus oils balancing on the palate beautifully. The finish lingers with fresh zesty grapefruit and juniper.

Mackmyra was Sweden’s first whisky distillery and 20 years after being established continues to innovate and evolve. Mackmyra Destination is a non-peated whisky that to a large extent has been aged in casks that previously held port wine. These casks give the whisky deep notes of red grapes, raisins and a beautiful chestnut colour. Together with American oak casks that contribute with notes of vanilla fudge. The finished result is balanced, yet complex and round. Make sure to let the whisky breathe for a while before enjoying it. This will open up the palette to sparkle with beautiful notes. This whisky is an invitation to whisky lovers all around the world to come and visit us at one of our many destinations. Pear and raisins on the nose is a lovely combination, followed by sweet notes of fudge and almond. The palate has more prominent notes of vanilla fudge and almond coming from the American oak casks along with sweet raisins and berry-like nuances of white heart cherry and blackberry. On the finish is hazelnut with lively notes of oak.

The 2022 Diageo Special & Rare collection is known as "Elusive Expressions", drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson, portrays the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables and the mythical creatures come to life revealing their true characters. This year each bottle has its own unique QR code which, when scanned, takes you on a multi-sensory experience that tells you the story of the whisky, the mythical creature behind the artwork, and gives you some tasting notes to prompt your nose and palate along the way. The label artwork follows almost as a sequel to the 2021 range, revolving once again around the theme of mythical beasts and stories. Illustrator, Ken Taylor, returns again and is joined this year by digital visualisation artist, Kevin Tong. Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml (Special Release 2022) was matured in refill American oak, then finished in virgin Tawny port and red muscat-seasoned casks. For the whisky that arguably has the most exotic cask make-up in this line-up, not to mention its famed meaty spirit, the nose on this is relatively quiet. It takes a bit of digging to find hints of red forest fruits (currants and raspberries) and perhaps some jelly confectionery notes.

Quinta do Noval is an astonishing wine estate, with a rare combination of deep history and innovation. Founded in 1715, it has changed hands just twice over 300 years. The most important thing to understand about Quinta do Noval is, that unlike the other famous names in the world of Port, Noval is a single estate, a single vineyard, a producer that controls every step of production from vine to bottle. The Quinta do Noval 20 Year Old Tawny Port is made entirely from fruit cropped from the Quinta do Noval estate, so this is a step up in quality as well as age from the 10 year old. In Port and the Douro, Richard Mayson has referred to this category as, “the epitome of balance combining freshness and delicacy with the secondary toasted almond and walnut complexity from ageing in wood.” Noval’s contribution to the 20-year-old field is pure premier league. Sublimely elegant and refined, there’s so much intricacy and toffee-scented depth. It’s a perfect example of how delicious and complex a 20-year-old Tawny Port can be.

Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils is located in the village of Châteauneuf du Pape, has built a solid reputation over the years as producing rich, ripe red wines, so it's interesting to see that Thierry Usseglio and his son, Gregory, are experimenting with the use of whole bunches and an entirely new wine style that combines a large proportion of white grapes and use of amphorae. A wine you don’t see often (there’s only one barrel made), the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Not For You is 100% Grenache from the 100+ year old vines in the Les Serres lieu-dit, only made in the best vintages, 100% Grenache, mostly destemmed, with 3-5 week concrete vat vinification, before being aged in new 600-litre oak casks 24 months. An array of red and black fruits, pepper, lavender and spicy oak. Incredibly unique, full-bodied and concentrated.

Michter's, a renowned American whiskey company, has a rich history dating back to 1753 when Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk founded the distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Shenk's whiskey was made from rye grain, which was a favourite local crop in the Pennsylvania Blue Mountain Valley where the distillery was located. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington purchased whiskey from Shenk's to fortify his men as they hunkered down in their camp through the long, brutal winter at Valley Forge. The Michter's Pennsylvania management would later say that Michter's was "the whiskey that warmed the American Revolution." In the mid-1800s, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger purchased the distillery and it became known as Bomberger's. However, the passage of Prohibition in 1919 forced the distillery, along with other American spirits producers, to shut its doors to the public. Although the distillery did reopen after the repeal of Prohibition, it changed hands many times over the next few decades and frequently occupied a precarious financial position. In 1989, with the entire American whiskey industry suffering a prolonged downturn, Michter's then-owners declared bankruptcy and abandoned the premises, leaving its Pennsylvania operations in disrepair and the Michter's name seemingly lost to history. However, in the 1990s, Joseph J. Magliocco and his consultant and mentor Richard "Dick" Newman teamed up to resurrect Michter's. Magliocco and Newman made their first major strategic decision to resurrect Michter's in Kentucky, in the heart of the modern American whiskey industry, to ensure access to the best whiskey talent and resources available. Today, Michter's has three locations in Kentucky, including a 78,000 square foot distillery in the Shively section of Louisville, the architecturally significant Fort Nelson Building on Louisville's Museum Row and 205 acres of farm land in Springfield. Michter's is renowned for producing the best whiskey possible and they continue to honour the Michter's legacy by offering the greatest American whiskey. Michter's has come a long way since its early years in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania and its resurgence in Kentucky is a testament to the brand's commitment to quality and attention to detail. The 10-Year Rye, 10-Year Bourbon, and 20-Year Bourbon expressions from Michter's are a testament to the brand's exceptional craftsmanship and Kentucky's unrivalled climate for aging outstanding whiskey. These highly limited releases are often significantly older than the age statement on the label, as only a select few barrels age with the elegance required for inclusion. The result is a truly exceptional whiskey that showcases the brand's commitment to quality and attention to detail. Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye is one of the brand's most limited production items, continuing the legacy of America's first whiskey variety (rye) from America's first whiskey company (Michter's, originally known as Shenk's). After a nearly three-year absence from the market, Michter's then Master Distiller Willie Pratt finally gave the green light for the re-release of Michter's 10 Year Straight Rye in April 2014. This single barrel rye is produced in limited quantities in Kentucky, a state renowned for its exceptional whiskey production. Bottled at a strength of 92.8 proof (46.4% Alcohol by Volume), this rye is aged in fire-charred, new American white oak barrels, imparting a rich and complex flavour profile. On the palate, this rye offers deep notes of vanilla and toffee, toasted almonds and cinnamon, with an ample dose of crushed pepper and a hint of orange citrus. The result is a truly exceptional whiskey that showcases the brand's commitment to quality and attention to detail. Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye is a testament to the brand's legacy and expertise in producing outstanding whiskey. Its limited production and exceptional flavour profile make it a must-have for any whiskey connoisseur looking for a unique and complex tasting experience.