The Whisky Grotto

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.

Brand: Koch Mezcal
NOM: NOM-O171X
Mezcalero: Pedro Hernandez
Maguey: Espadin
Agave: Angustifolia
Grind: Tahona
Distillation: Copper
Style: Joven
State: Oaxaca
Town: San Baltazar Gu?lavila
ABV: 47%
Age of plant: 7 years

About this mezcal
Koch Espadin is made with 100% farm-grown agave Espadin in San Baltazar. This mezcal is made by mezcalero Pedro Hernandez. It has sweet, fruity tones and a light taste of coconut mixed with herbs and spices.

Koch Mezcal
Carlos Moreno's family has been linked to mezcal since the beginning of the 20th century. In 2009, Carlos resumed the family tradition and teamed up with 5th generation maestro mezcalero Pedro Hernandez to create Koch El Mezcal de Oaxaca, with the goal of preserving and promoting mezcal culture. After 10 years of business, they've now integrated more than 15 communities and 50 producing families into their collective. Each batch will vary, so check your bottle for details.

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.

Laphroaig single malt from Islay aged for three decades! Twice matured in bourbon casks, expect this peated whisky to be complex, rounded and absolutely full of flavour.

Nose: Mandarin and mango rise to the fore tempered by toasted almond and coconut. Aromatic peat oils are interwoven, appearing as cedar, wintergreen and smoked sage.

Palate: A superbly oily mouthfeel with orange peel, vanilla, and coriander leaf, in a cedar cigar box alongside wild root ginseng.

Finish: Long and complex with lingering pulpy stone fruit and chewy green hand-rolled tobacco.

53.5% ABV

Douglas Laing's Big Peat is a feisty Islay character with a sweet side. This is a small batch bottling, without colouring or chill-filtration and only contains Islay Malt Whiskies, including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and (even the elusive) Port Ellen, to name but a few! 

If there is one whisky we overlook it's Glenfiddich 12yr. We should remember the groundbreaking work the Grant family did in making Single Malt Scotch available to the world. If it wasn't for them you wouldn't be able to have a dram of your Adelphi and Signatory cask strength whiskies. We'll make no bones about this particular scotch - it is made in massive quantities, and is made to appeal to as many people as possible - by my calculation enough is made to sell 1600 bottles a minute. It is not overly peaty or smoky, rather it is one of the best balanced whiskies we sell. Even people who "don't like whisky"(yes they exist, somewhere) can enjoy a dram of Glenfiddich. The older expressions are well worth looking for as well - particularly the 15 and 21yr old. Nose: Just Juice Tropical, pear, Granny Smith apples, milk chocolate, cloves, toasted;cardamon. Palate: Sweet fruit, apple turnovers, butterscotch, clotted cream, caramel, nougat.; Finish:;A subtle hint of peat and oil, toast.

A fab Caol Ila from the Distillers Edition series, distilled in 2006. Before it was bottled in 2018, it spent a period finishing in casks which previously held Moscatel sherry, so you can imagine the balance of sweet, savoury and smoke in this Islay whisky!

Nose: Buttered toast and marmalade, with oaky vanilla and sea-washed pebbles.

Palate: Peat smoke supports notes of creamy porridge, apricot jam and figs, with a drizzle of honey.

Finish: More dried apricot and maritime smoke, with candied citrus and a herbaceous backdrop.

This 12yo is a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, and like the other distillery bottlings since the revamp, has been bottled at a feisty 48%. A real charmer.

48% ABV l 700mL

Always triple distilled, now triple cask matured for an extra drop of smoothness. Matured in Sherry butt, Bourbon barrel and a Malaga cask giving a sublte sweetness & extra smoothness. A Travel Retail Exclusive product

Nose: Initial fruit notes of sweet pear that develop into zesty citrus peel with some dark fruits in the background. The American oak adds a rich wood spice contribution along with sweet notes of vanilla, chocolate and toasted oak. Hints of cinnamon and clove delicately work in balance with the sweet M?laga wine cask influence.

Taste: Luscious, with sweet orchard fruits and light hints of blackcurrants, plums and raisins. The spices slowly build adding depth with hints of clove and black pepper, layered over the oak tannins adding dark chocolate and liquorice. Lingering finish, with the spices slowly fading to reveal the fruits and oak.

Macallan's Triple Cask range was launched in 2018, taking the place of the Fine Oak range. This is the entry level expression from the series, matured for 12 years and drawn from a combination of European sherry seasoned casks, American sherry seasoned casks and American ex-bourbon casks.

Nose: Gingerbread, vanilla essence, wafts of buttered toast and clotted-cream-topped scones.

Palate: Raisins, sultanas and stem ginger. Citrus begins to develop on the palate, with a touch of dark chocolate.

Finish: Subtle cedar and honey linger on the palate.

Some of the casks are matured in warehouses that are located further inland. The conditions here affect our maturation climate and help create a rich and smoky tasking style of whisky that we call Land Cask.

You can spend years waiting for a new release in Talisker's core range then two come along at once! Hot on the heels of Talisker Storm in early 2013 comes Talisker's Port Ruighe, pronounced 'Port Ree'.

This no age statement release is finished in Port wine casks, imparting a new dimension to this Isle of Skye single malt.

Nose: After a wave of initial sea spray, the nose becomes more complex with Crayola crayons, orange pith and a touch of white chocolate. Demerara and even sticking plaster emerge briefly along with plummy, umeshu notes.

Palate: Initial characteristic Talisker brine once again but much sweeter than usual. Thick and mouth coating like the Storm with chilli and a little chocolate orange. Increasingly smoky - much smokier than the nose suggests.

Finish: Milk chocolate becomes cocoa and oak with mocha notes and the faintest hint of that orange pith once again.

A terrific single malt from The Balvenie. This Speysider was initially aged in traditional oak casks before it was finished in casks which previously held Caribbean rum, imparting some extra sweetness and warmth to the whisky. In fact, to create it, Balvenie malt master David C. Stewart made his very own blend of West Indian rums, filled it into casks, and then eventually replaced the rum in said casks with Balvenie's whisky! The fabulous result is a well-rounded whisky with notes of toffee, fruit and vanilla.

Nose: The aroma is rich with notes of tropical fruits, namely passion fruit, and creamy toffee.

Palate: Sweet vanilla forms a creamy palate with notes of apples and mangoes with a hint of orange in the background.

Finish: The finish lingers with a vanilla focussed character.

Goslings Gold Rum is a world apart from traditional amber rums. Robust, yet remarkably soft. The result of years of sipping and perfecting, its intricate, luscious character lives up admirably to its impressive lineage.

By using only the finest distillates in strict accordance with techniques handed down over six generations, Goslings finally created a distinctive amber rum that is impressing demanding rum enthusiasts everywhere.

An indulgent smooth single malt matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks and aged Tawny Port pipes. These casks were sourced from well-known port producer W&J Graham's

Nose: Clove-studded orange, raspberry and prune.

Palate: Chocolatey at first, before waves of dried fruit and stem ginger notes appear. A touch of earthy bitterness develops later on, balanced by runny honey.

Finish: Roast chestnuts, gingerbread and tobacco.