From the Whisky Cellar

‘Ruadh Maor’ is the trade name given to this curiously heavily-peated Highland Malt, distilled at Glenturret in February 2010 and filled into a refill Sherry Butt before being bottled in August 2021.

Colour: Bright Gold.
Nose: Barbeque smokehouse aromas. Liniment oil, black pepper and yellow sultanas.
Palate: Smoked meats with a sweet barbeque glaze. Some chocolate covered raisins.
Finish: Savoury meat roasting juices with a dusting of sugar and sweet spice. Great balance.
Bottles: 719.

Glenglassaugh Distillery produces a medium bodied spirit with a heather-honey sweet style and this particular whisky, was distilled in November 2014 and bottled in August 2021 having spent a lengthy period of ‘finishing’ in a first-fill Oloroso Sherry Quarter Cask.

Colour: Tawny Brown.
Nose: Strawberry fondant, peppery warmth and dark toffee.
Palate: Sweet notes of plum jam, dark chocolate and strawberry tart with the warmth of red peppercorns.
Finish: Great structure and length for a relatively youthful whisky. Rich chocolate covered cranberries.
Bottles: 148.

This is a wonderfully rich and complex single malt. Opening with rich and spicy aromas of crème brulee, heather honey and crumbled cinnamon, intensely fruity notes follow - fresh pineapple dressed with a scattering of sun-kissed lemon zest. There’s a hint of freshly-baked sponge cake too, warm from the oven, and you’ll find cinnamon again, but toasted shards this time. Citrus and vanilla notes linger in the aromatic waves of peat smoke. 

To create 15 Year Old Viking Heart, Gordon Motion, Highland Park's Master Whisky Maker, selected predominantly sherry seasoned European oak casks to deliver warm, spicy notes and sherry seasoned American oak casks to provide a balance of sweet vanilla. Expertly adding just a few refill casks to soften and smooth the flavours, Gordon chose to bottle at 44% ABV to allow the whisky’s vibrant fruitiness and distinctive heathery peat smoke to shine through. Why a ceramic decanter? Rewind a century or two and Highland Park whisky would have been stored in earthenware vessels. Inspired by examples found at their distillery in Orkney, Highland Park asked Wade Ceramics if they could work with them to create a modern version. Established in 1810 and based in Stoke-on-Trent in England (known globally as the traditional home of ceramics) Wade share Highland Park's commitment to environmental responsibility, focusing on sustainable manufacturing and using locally sourced raw materials. The lead-free porcelain decanter is 100% food safe, glazed inside and out, and embossed with the lion and serpent design that appears on many of Highland Park's glass bottles. Look closely at the back of the bottle and you’ll find the heart motif that inspired this whisky’s name.

Matured in a combination of refill hogsheads and butts for three decades, this Dalwhinnie single malt is an elegant addition to Diageo's 2019 Special Releases. Aromas of raisins, leather, lemon and cinnamon-baked apples mingle with mint, grape jelly, honeysuckle, spring meadows and hay. The palate offers notes of summer flowers, vanilla toffee, delicate oak spice and slices of apple and pear, followed by zesty lemon, candied flowers, Crystalised ginger and buttery shortbread biscuits.

A old age Speysider from Inchgower, independently bottled by Douglas Laing after 25 years  spent in a sherry butt REF - DL14183. An outturn of 242 bottles at 51.5% ABV.

Nose: Sweet and barley-rich initially, then comes tangerines, brown sugar and a damp oak style.

Palate: Lots of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) running to vanilla essence and stewed fruits.

Finish: Long – detect golden syrup, a slight floral character, milk chocolate and barley.

Distillery - Aberfeldy
Bottler - Distillery Bottling
Bottling series - Exceptional Cask Series
Bottled - 2019
Stated Age - 20 years old
Casknumbers - 6,7,8,9,10,18,120
Number of bottles - 3600
Strength - 43.0 % Vol.

The third release in Wolfburn's Kylver series features the runic symbol Thurs, which roughly translates as thorn or giant. This is one of the runic symbol found on the Kylver stone which the series is named after. this limited-edition Highland single malt has been matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, creating aromas of vanilla, angelica root, waxy fruit and charred oak on the nose. The palate offers notes of crunchy brown sugar, fried bananas, oily walnut and a hint of something smoky.

Aged in a combination of refill bourbon barrels and refill American oak hogsheads, the finest of which have been personally selected by Glen Scotia’s expert team, before a six-month finish in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, this elegant addition to Glen Scotia’s range is a smooth and aromatic dram ideal for whisky connoisseurs.

The oloroso sherry finish adds perfumed floral notes, creating a delicately aromatic dram while preserving the signature distillery character of rich fruits, hints of Atlantic sea spray, and subtle maritime nuances. Glen Scotia’s 21-year-old is an exceptional single malt that delivers the true character of a refined and classic Campbeltown whisky.

The liquid has been matured to bridge the gap between Glen Scotia’s 18-year-old and its 25-year-old, which won the ‘Best in Class’ and therefore Best in the World, at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021 out of 3,800 entrants.

The remarkable new release comes presented in Glen Scotia’s premium bottle in deep hues of purple and gold. An elegant metal coin of the Glen Scotia entwined ‘GS’ logo is set into the shoulder of the bottle, which is presented in a display box ideal for collectors or gifting to someone special.

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Manzanilla is much like Fino sherry, which is produced by the sea where the conditions are even more suitable for the growing of flor. Though the maturation is the same as for the Kavalan Fino, the texture is lighter and more delicate with a touch of saltiness together with mineral flavours, which are all the consequences of a stable and thick layer of flor, sea breezes and brine.

To produce this release of Akashi Single Malt Whisky, the White Oak distillery aged this whisky in Cognac barrels for 3 and a half years before refining it for 10 months in barrels of white wine from the Akashi vineyard in Yamanashi County. The result is a Single Malt without cold staining or filtration, which has a nice balance and focused on woody and fruity notes.

Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.

Single malt whisky from the White Oak Akashi range, matured for five years in a white wine cask.

The nose is softly spicy with a smidge of smoke, wrapped up in tangy grape and citrus leading to brown sugar on the palate and more tangy fruit brightness that cuts through the vanilla and oak. A lasting hint of lemon and chocolate on the finish.

500mL | 50%ABV

The 4th release in the Greedy Angels series, showing that Amrut can do as a 10 Year-Old whisky. A rich, smoky Indian single malt whisky matured for 10 years and finished in an exrum cask, before being bottled in October 2019. Smoky peat and woody spice notes lead to sweet spice and marmalade, moving into cherry, cocoa and sweet vanilla. The palate shows sweet butterscotch, citrus and tropical fruits, followed by camphor, soft smoke and rumsoaked raisins. 

Each decanter comes complete with a decadent presentation box as well as a rather weighty glass stopper. Only 450 bottles produced

Amrut Fusion X (ten), a special, limited-edition single malt whisky was launched on the November 25 in honour of the 10th anniversary of Amrut Distilleries. Amrut whiskies are a connoisseur’s delight. Especially for the discerning patron is the Amrut Fusion X. The Fusion whisky has been matured in sherry casks imported from Spain, for four years. While the base remains the familiar Fusion, its treatment gives whisky lovers a whole new flavour profile to enjoy. On the first sip, the whisky gives you marzipan, vanilla, and citrus on the palate, followed by peat that comes through and lingers on. I sampled it neat and a little later with a cube of ice and enjoyed the lingering peat flavours. 

Amrut Fusion X is a collectable. It is a very limited bottling of 1010 bottles released internationally.

This intriguing whisky is aged in sherry casks which have been infused with orange peel and wine for 3 years before being emptied and refilled with the unfinished Amrut spirit. This creates an unusual yet delicious whisky with a strong but balanced orange presence.