From the Whisky Cellar

Another whisky from our exploration of Single Grains, this Strathclyde was aged for 22 years – distilled in October 1998 and bottled in August 2021, having been finished in a first-fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead.

Colour: Deep Amber.
Nose: Polished oak, caramel shortbread and ripe red forest fruits.
Palate: Redcurrant jam, spearmint toffees, lychee and salted caramel.
Finish: A touch of spice on a long lingering finish with the red fruits adding a delicious tang.
Bottles: 253.

A classic reposado tequila, which gains complex flavours from being aged for six months in white oak barrels. This is exactly how reposado should be, with a smooth body and balanced, pure agave flavours.

Mt Etna is Europe's largest active volcano and the inspiration for the artwork on the label of this funky new, savoury flavoured, silky textured red from Etna. It's pale in colour with huge structure and earthy aromas supported by red fruit notes from the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio grapes; famous for being grown only on Mt Etna. This wine is a relative newcomer for the Piccini family, a Tuscan based wine family who now own a vineyard called Scalunera on Mt Etna. 

IMAGINATION - Rhubarb and Raspberry gin is inspired by the New Zealand summer which is when both of these ingredients are at their best.  We gently extract the juice from the rhubarb and raspberries and blend of it with a dry gin designed specifically for this recipe.  The floral aroma of orris root is prominent on the nose with juniper, coriander and manuka maintaining the delicate piney heart of this gin.  Whole New Zealand navel oranges and lemons create a citrus complement to the fruity base with cinnamon, licorice and the orris root ensuring a surprisingly sweet spice finish.

Each label tells the story of the ingredients, the place or the people behind what's in the bottle.  This label was inked by the hugely talented Kapiti Coast Tattoo designer and illustrator Sam Philips.  You can check out his work at sampphilipsillustration.com

Dry Australian Sémillon is one of our neighbour winemaking neighbour's quirkiest, most individualistic wines. This wine comes from the iconic Brokenwood Winery in the Hunter Valley, a relatively rainy region where moisture tends to force early harvests with slightly lower sugars and pronounced acidity, which allows the wines to age well for decades. 

This wine drinks well now and has fresh green herb aromas and flavours. It will also age well. We'd give this accessibly priced Aussie Semillon a good 10 years in the cellar and then vive la difference.

Dry, savoury and earthy style of Pinot Noir with delicacy and power from grapes grown on Craggy Range's windswept and beautiful Te Muna Road vineyard, 9 kilometres east of the Martinborough village. 

Hand picked grapes from the Te Muna Vineyard were fermented in a combination of French oak cuves and open top stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts. The finished wine was matured in French oak barriques, 22% new, for 10 months. No fining but a coarse filtration results in a satisfyingly savoury dry Pinot with tension and backbone. A stunner now and for the cellar. 

Introducing the Firkin Rare - A veritable smorgasbord of flavour from rare and unusual casks.

The Rare is a Speyside Single-Malt Scotch Whisky - Distilled at Inchgower Distillery 2010.

Grassy, almost apple notes on a bed of raisin highlights Pedro Ximénez sherry. This whisky has layers galore. A fascinating weave of creamy and crisp malts wrap around you as a zesty edge sherried fruit and toffee walnut pillows your taste buds.

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This is an elegant and vibrant Chardonnay from internationally renowned Leeuwin Estate. The Prelude Vineyards wines are made from the most expressive fruit, with the intention that they will drink well soon after release. While being excellent to drink young, they retain great ageing potential. 

The nose is fragrant, with citrus and orchard fruit notes. On the palate, the wine shows ripe stone-fruit and gentle floral notes, with a light touch of vanilla. This is a juicy wine with bright, juicy acidity and a zesty finish. Given time, this wine will build in complexity and texture.

Scoundrels and Rogues - Sometimes, bigger is better.  Made by the most irrepressible Scoundrels and Rogues in North Canterbury.  This 2016 Imperial Cider is made from one batch selected out of that year Pleasantly Corrupted cider.  It spent eighteen months in barrel, meaning it is intense, it has got a character, and despite its 10.9% alcohol, it is so drinkable it could only be evil.

This cider is handmade and mildly offensive, but you'll get over it.

2016, sourced from low yielding gnarly bush vines.  Largely aged between 35 and 80 years. This wine is Barossa Grenache at its best.  Bright red fruits and spice flow on to a rich, yet savory palate delivering a wine of elegance.  Tight structure and tremendous length  The subtle use of French oak enhances the true varietal characters of this classic Barossa Grenache.  

Exceptional North Canterbury Pinot Noir made in small volumes from the evocatively named isolated hill vineyard in Waiau. Spicy aromas and structured tannins lead into a full body wine made using indigenous yeast fermentation and spending 26 days on skins with ageing for 15 months in French oak.

This wine comes from winemaker Dom Maxwell, the talented winemaker at Greystone. Forager is his own personal winemaking project. 

Stone Paddock Chardonnay is a lightly oaked wine. Showing ripe tropical fruit and peach aromas with fine grapefruit and mineral undertones. The gentle influence of oak accentuates the sweet stonefruit, melon and grapefruit flavours. The texture is creamy and luscious with a fine minerality on the finish.