Tasting notes:  Nose is "vanilla lemon cake." The palate is a balance of caramel, vanilla, spices and citrus. I'm not sure if they made the opulent bottle to match the Whiskey or vice versa.

Sip Smith - A desire to create the ultimate gin for juniper lovers took us on a mission to distill a 'Very Junipery Over Proof Gin'. When increasing the flavour profile in a gin, it is essential to match it with a rise in ABV. At 57.7% ABV this juniper-forward gin uses triple the amount of juniper berries to our London Dry Gin.

Patron Anejo is a delicate blend of uniquely aged tequilas. All the tequilas are aged in small white oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. As in many premium red wines, the blends must be adjusted for each vintage. The same care and attention is paid when blending Patron Anejo making it smooth, distinctive and extraordinary. 

Source: www.patrontequila.com

The finger limes highlight the Asian spices like coriander and star anise, and are complemented by the fresh ginger. Then turmeric adds weight to the palate and a fresh but earthy quality, not unlike dill.

The resulting gin has lifted aromatics of lime curd, pine needles, and fragrant spices with a vanilla character which pulls it all together. The palate is intense - sweet and juicy - but it is still very clean.

DISTILLATION PARTNERS “There’s some peated Glenturret in there, a bit of Caol Ila, Glenrothes, Ben Nevis and some “Dalrymple” (a tea-spooned malt from the Ailsa Bay Distillery).” 

MATURATION Oloroso Sherry Cask

SENSORY Deep mahogany with a rich Oloroso Sherry seasoned oak nose. Hints of cigar box, dried raisins, dark plums and festive spice. Palate shows charred Christmas cake ends, cigar box, gingerbread, burnt orange peel, smoked bacon. The finish is long, warming and lingering, balancing barbeque smoked meats with brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon.

CIGAR PAIRING Maduro’ (meaning ‘mature’ in Spanish) cigars are made from extra fermented and slow aged tobacco leaves and tend to be sweeter and darker than others. The Whisky Cellar’s Keith Bonnington suggests: 

1. Padron 1926 Series No. 35 Maduro (notes of coffee, pepper, cedar wood, leather and caramel) 

2. Cohiba Black Robusto Crystal (notes of cocoa and coffee) 

3. Camacho Triple Maduro (notes of earth and spice). Equally good with a cup of freshly brewed Arabica coffee, a densely sweet after-dinner dessert or a piece of dark chocolate (the minimum 70% cocoa fat version).

Whistlebird Gin has been developed by two blokes with a garage, lab grade equipment, artificial intelligence and napkin math. 

With their own unique and efficient method of distillation, the breaking down of botanical matter has become many times more efficient and less wasteful than traditional methods.

The botanical mass bathes in a bath of sound (the bird bath) engulfed by low frequency wave lengths which sound like a high pitched whistle. 

Maceration occurs when these sound waves uniformly break down our formula through vibration which ultimately saturates our blend with a Scream and a Whistle!

Along with the trademark distillation process this allows for a very fast, controlled, and efficient maceration and distillation. 

GOOD VIBES ONLY.

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.

Batch #1 of a non-chill filtered single malt at a bold 50% ABV for intensity. Composed from Australian barley and craft brewers’ yeast for extra flavour.

Starward age Fortis in 100% American Oak barrels to give a full, rich taste that enhances the toasty oak and vanilla characters of the whisky. Fortis also boasts juicy red wine characteristics thanks to barrels from mostly Barossa Valley wineries, which once held powerful shiraz and cabernets. Some barrels are charred for complexity, most are fresh, lending Fortis the intense red wine flavours that soaked into the barrel staves. They don’t chill filter this stronger release to closely represent the whisky that comes from the barrel.

A rich, full-bodied flavour balanced with the approachable velvety smoothness Starward whiskies are known for. Expect upfront notes of Madagascan vanilla pod and toasty oak. The palate is all chocolate ganache, cinnamon, quince and Muscadelle raisin with a lingering baking spiced finish.

Spectacular sipped straight and savoured. Or stir it down with vermouth, Campari and orange bitters, or in another classic cocktail.

Made using barley grown on Macallan's Speyside estate, distilled once a year in a single week, this single malt has been matured exclusively in sherry seasoned oak butts and hogsheads. Warm, comforting aromas of cinnamon, dried fruits, sweet lemons and caramel fill the nose, and the palate initially offers notes of warm spice, dry oak and fresh figs. Sweet orange and dried fruit flavours develop slowly, alongside delicate citrus and sweet toffee.

Macallan Estate is presented in a striking box inspired by the landscape of Speyside. Featuring an inlay of hand-cut slate, this unique box reflects the sense of place found in the whisky.

This was the first whisky to be bottled at cask strength in the late 1960s and, as such, set the bar for non-age statement cask strength whiskies. It is thought that the malt is around 8-10 years old and from both sherry and bourbon casks. 

A beautifully deep and rich whisky with plenty of punch. 

This exceptional edition was created by current Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell, to honor those who have gone before him. Starting with malted barley that's gently smoked over a peat-fuelled fire, then distilled along with the clear water drawn from the legendary Kilbride stream, the spirit is aged twice.

The process begins in first-fill, over-charred ex-Bourbon barrels before moving into large, new European oak hogsheads for further maturation. The result is a deep orange-hued whisky which combines the signature peat smoke and medicinal flavor of Laphroaig with caramelized dark fruit. Serve neat, or pour over ice.

Whisky made in tribute to two centuries of Laphroaig master distillers

Developed by John Campbell to pay tribute to his predecessors

Notes of peat, caramelized dark fruit and oiled wood

Perfect balance of bitter, sweet, fruity and smoky flavors

Matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and new European oak hogsheads

An entirely bourbon-matured bottle of Arran single malt! After its distillation on the eponymous island, Barrel Reserve is matured exclusively in first-fill bourbon barrels, bottled at 43% ABV and presented in this rather handsome glass vessel (otherwise known as a bottle).

Nose: Fresh grass sweetness, lemon tart, biscuity malt and tart apple skin.

Palate: Malty, with Curiously Cinnamon cereal, vanilla fudge and green apple alongside a faint sea breeze.

Finish: Vanilla oak and lots of aromatic spice, with salted caramel and a handful of orchard fruit.

The final whisky in a series of three special edition Viking Legend releases – is inspired by Odin, the mightiest of the Norse gods. The most peated whisky Highland Park have released to date, it is matured entirely in refill casks to give beautifully balanced layers of flavour and a character as complex as Odin himself.

Sweet apple fragrant pear, crème brûlée, toasted cedar wood, smoked paprika and aromatic peat smoke

GlenDronach have released another sumptuous single malt that has enjoyed a rest in Port casks. This particular expression is a 10 year old whisky, initally aged in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks before being finished in Port pipes from Portugal's Douro valley.

Originally released for the Taiwanese market, Macallan Aera is a no age statement single malt matured in predominantly in sherry-seasoned oak casks. After its maturation, it was bottled up at 40% ABV in this rather striking black bottle.