Prepare to snatch the cloak from our latest  limited edition and reveal to the world the  palate-provoking, taste-tantalising, whisky wonder that is Ardbeg Spectacular.  A first for Ardbeg, this whisky has been  matured in highly sought-after port wine casks, then married with classic bourbon barrels creating an extraordinarily smoky and balanced Ardbeg dram that imparts all  manner of peculiar notes and aromas. This is  devilish sweet meets smoky peat!

Tasting Notes: Smoky pear crumble and cooling  menthol twist into notes of incense candles, perfumed  lavender and antique leather.

Cask Type: Matured in highly sought-after port wine  casks and classic ex-bourbon barrels

It's called Dark Oak for a reason and that reason is maturation in a combo of oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and bourbon casks. Auchentoshan are famous for their light, triple distilled, Lowland style... but here it combines beautifully with the wood influence and the result is a single malt packed full of stewed fruit and warming Christmas spice notes.

Hibiki was created to be the paragon of the Suntory blend.  The name Hibiki literally means "resonance" in Japanese, and reflects the Suntory Corporate philosophy to "live in harmony with people and nature."  

The Hibiki Japanese Harmony is the epitome of the Hibiki blend.  Subtle, noble and harmonious, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a perfect introduction to Japanese Whisky and the award-winning House of Suntory Whisky.

Nose:  Rose, Lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness/sandalwood

Palate: Honey like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate

Finish: Subtle and tender long finish, hint of Mizunara (Japanese Oak)

This second edition in the collection has been aged for 14 years in a marriage of aromatic Madeira casks and classic Ardbeg bourbon.

The influence of these rare Madeira casks is undeniable. In a dram where peat meets sweet, syrupy sponge pudding and tropical baked fruits mingle with peat smoke, cedarwood, and camphor. A rare breed of Ardbeg indeed.

Colour:
Pure Gold

Aroma:
Rich, sweet, aromatic, and fruity, baked banana bread and syrupy sponge pudding fill the senses. Notes of treacle trot into a distinctive whiff of burning cedarwood.
A splash of water releases a bounty of tropical fruits. Eucalyptus oil mingles with soft aromatic smoke.

Taste:
Zesty notes of lime and sweet peaches canter across the palate. A burst of rich smoked fruit and baked bread prance into antiseptic lozenges, creosote, and aniseed. Soft barley malt combines with nutmeg and peat smoke.

Finish:
The influence of these rare Madeira casks is undeniable. A whimsically smoky finish welcomes a long and lingering aftertaste of menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.

An ace Australian single malt from the Starward range, Nova spends its life maturing in casks that previously held Australian red wine, sourced from wineries that produce Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In fact, the casks come right from the wineries, and are only lightly charred or steamed before whisky goes into them, ensuring that the wine's flavour profile has an impact on the spirit. Particularly decadent stuff, it does very well when pairing with rich foods as well as being enjoyed by itself. it's also rather good in cocktails that take advantage of the bold red fruit notes. Perhaps even a Manhattan...?

Nose: Positively bursting with red fruit, strawberries with a Port-like mixture of fruit and nuts.

Palate: Honey, cinnamon and more red fruit on the palate, creamy nutty texture, luxurious mouthfeel with a touch of tannin.

Finish: Toffee with walnuts.

SAMAROLI ISLAY
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
BOTTLED IN SCOTLAND IN 2023

Our eye - or better our nose - dwells on this youngster, allowing us to bottle yet another iteration of our philosophy of Islay, the queen of Scotland. We stand before a young, arrogant and daring Caol Ila. Despite its youth, the mastery conferred by wood presents us with a slightly peaty note. In addition, we sense shy hints of yeast, butter and smoked meats reminiscent of our hearth after last night’s fire is spent. And now almond, hazelnut and candied fruit. 

The saline plane surprises us in terms of equilibrium and harmony. Suggestions of herring and anchovy, a classic marina scent with flashes of the mineral. Those caper bushes descending towards the Sicilian sea are now evoked. To the right the Pillars of Heracles. To the left, the mysterious and intriguing East. There is a narrow border between the ocean and the sky which is lighter and therefore easy to identify. Some may say that Brittany is where we can best learn to distinguish this.

A.W.B. 

COMPOSITION: 3 casks of Caol Ila 2013 - Hogshead - Refill Bourbon
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 1104
ABV: 45%

From Dufftown on the banks of the River Fiddich, The Singleton of Glendullan is, much like House Tully, a product of the Riverlands – just with a lower-case 'r'. A sweet and fruity dram, this single malt is heaving with vanilla, chocolate and cereal notes, all lifted by a lively spice.

A Speyside single malt from the Balmenach distillery bottled by the independent bottler Hart Brothers. It was bottled in October 2021 at a natural cask strength of 58,8% ABV, non chill filtered and with no added colour, as a limited single cask release.

Oranges, sour candy and black fruit like brambles on the nose give way to a palate that is warming and creamy with mocha notes, nuts and light port aromas.

Kavalan's incredible Solist Vinho Barrique expression is allowed to mature in casks that have contained red and white wines, and then re-toasted. Very interesting Taiwanese whisky from King Car.

Nose: Vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango.

Palate: Kiwi and a delicate blend of citrus fruits burst. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed.

Finish: Clean and complex hints of chocolate and ripe fruit.

This was a surprise when it was released in 2018 as the distillery was closed from 1993 onwards and finally dismantled in the early 2000s. It was matured in refill American oak hogsheads and bottled at a cask strength 52.1% and the result is a lively vibrant expression with pastry, green apples and coconuts at the fore. Always a pleasure to sample  malt from a ghost distillery knowing that nothing quite like it will ever be produced again.

Belonging to our Cask Expressions Collection, our Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky is created from select first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels in which our rich and fruity single malt spirit has been patiently matured. These premium American oak barrels are ideal for ageing whisky and impart delicious notes of vanilla and honey. This sweet and malty cask strength expression is a whisky for purists and a wonderful expression of our distillery character.

Non-chill filtered. Natural colour.

In the universe of Planet Ardbeg, the legendary purifier on the still
responsible for Ardbeg's exalted balance has disappeared! Mysterious forces are rising at the Distillery.

The balance of Ardbeg has been disrupted and an ominous dram
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours is the consequence…

With SMOKY surges of bittersweetness and CLOUDS of dark chocolate and
eucalyptus, ARDBEG HEAVY VAPOURS is an ominous dram of dramatic,
AROMATIC pungency.

This Planet Ardbeg Day, new and existing committee members are invited to step
into Planet Ardbeg and join Agent 46 to solve the mystery of the missing purifier,
helping to restore the balance before it’s too late.

A decadent single-malt whisky. Starward have taken inspiration from Tawny #1, and fully matured this spirit in both fresh and charred, Tawny fortified wine casks. To mix things up, they threw in some puncheon and hogshead barrels for fun, which allowed vibrant tropical flavours to come through. 

Vibrant and indulgent. Expect welcoming flavours of dried fruits, toasted oak and brown sugar. As warm and comforting as Nan’s fruit cake.

Irresistible to sip neat. Strong enough to stand in a cocktail. 

Colour: Burnt orange 
Aroma: Dried fruit/raisins, toasted oak, fig and dried orange.   
Palate: Initial sweetness on the front palate, rich dried fruits, brown sugar and nutmeg. 
Finish: Palate slowly dries from the spice leaving a well-balanced finish 

Mannochmore's delicate and fragrant addition to Diageo's Flora and Fauna range. One of the only bottlings you'll find with the distillery name on the front.

Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, hand-selected each and every whisky for this aromatic blend, favouring high proportions of whiskies aged exclusively in first-fill American oak casks.

COLOUR
Deep old gold

NOSE
Deep, soft, fruity aromas, elegant sweetness and vanilla oakiness

TASTE
A complex balance of honey, floral and fruity flavours with notes of vanilla

FINISH
Long-lasting and elegant