The Glenlivet - This whisky has been called a lot of things in its time: smooth, fruity, complex, sophisticated, entertaining, classic. The Original Malt Whisky Almanac says: “A first-class malt. One of the most popular malts in the world – deservedly so.” Representing The Glenlivet’s signature style, this classic malt is first matured in traditional oak, before spending time in American oak casks which impart notes of vanilla and gives the whisky it’s distinctive smoothness. The mineral-rich water that comes from Josie’s Well helps form the flavours during mashing and fermentation, whilst the specific height and width of the copper stills add a delicate yet complex character. Keep a bottle on hand for every occasion.

Well-balanced and fruity, with strong pineapple notes

Nose A meeting of oloroso and crisp pot still character. Malty, too. Lovely fruitcake richness, though not as sweet as in recent years. Palate Very firm, oily, intense and mouthfilling. Finish A hint of spice counters an increasing oaky bitterness though the barley and sherry last to the very end. Soucre Jim Murray

A single malt with a bold, tropical twist. A portion of this whisky is finished in barrels that previously held Caribbean rum - the result is a well balanced and exceptionally smooth whisky. Single malt, meet summer.

Triple distilled Irish whiskey matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks.

Nose: Very lightly scented with nutty ice cream and sherry.

Palate: Rich dried fruit and chewy toffee, quite a mouth-filling shock after the very delicate nose.

Finish: Fudgy.

40% ABV.

GlenDronach is, quite simply, the go to distillery for sherry aged whiskies. This large, imposing Victorian distillery makes whisky to match and some of their single cask offerings are as dark as night and like drinking liquid Xmas pudding and crêpes suzettes.

This is the archetypal 12 year old, aged in ex-oloroso and PX sherry casks. The nose is rich and lifted with honey, caramel, treacle, vanilla sugar and prunes dominating. The palate is rich and rounded with dried fruit, sultanas and milk chocolate. A fantastic all-round whisky and a must for the cabinet at home.

One of four new Fettercairn expressions to be launched in August 2018, the Fettercairn 12 Year Old was intended to embody the distillery’s floral and exotic fruit-driven character. It was matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

Nose: Refreshing nectarine, white flowers and milk chocolate emerge initially. Black toffee and subtle roasted coffee provide darker notes underneath,

Palate: Tropical fruit and sticky Jamaican ginger cake add a sweet and spicy depth which a flicker of bitter herbs and vanilla complement.

Finish: Orchard fruits and soft spices linger.

Glenglassaugh Sandend is inspired by the crescent beach of Sandend Bay where the distillery resides. Enriched in bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks, over time the lush flavour of Glenglassaugh Sandend brightens into waves of tropical sweetness, infused with a crack of sea salt.

Colour
Summer Gold

Nose
Soft buttery vanilla ice-cream drenched in tropical fruit, with chocolate and a touch of sea salt.

Taste
Waves of salted-caramel with an effervescent burst of pineapple, cherry and grapefruit, enlivened by the ocean shore.

ABV
50.5%

Nose:  An intoxicating burst of maraschino cherry, ripe bramble and dark chocolate with hints of orange bitters and walnut liqueur.

Taste: Honey-grazed apricot and ripe fig with a crescendo of black cherry, angelica and muscovado.

Finish: Long and enveloping with dark manuka honey, herbal bitters and dark chocolate.

A wholly unique style within Irish Whiskey, pushing the boundaries of convention, at the intersect of where old meets new.

Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey is crafted using an unconventional mash bill consisting of 95% corn and 5% malted barley that has been triple distilled and matured exclusively in French oak Ex-Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks from California, producing a truly unique Irish Whiskey

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).

Limited to 2 per person

Ardbeg Dolce
La Dolce Vita, Islay Style

Sicily, the land of headscarves, scooters and long walks along the beach, drenched in sun. Islay, the land of headscarves, tractors and long walks along the beach, just drenched.

Matured in 'dolce' (sweet) Marsala fortified wine casks, Ardbeg Dolce unites dry, sweet Sicilian heat with the classic, intense smoke of Ardbeg bourbon barrels. Inspired by the slow, soulful pace of life in Sicily and the glamourous allure of 1960s cinema, this is a whisky that takes all the elegance and charm of the Mediterranean, and fuses it with the rugged, windswept spirit of Islay.

ABV: 47.8%

Best occasion to drink: By the coast, with fellow Ardbeggians - Come Islay rain or Sicily shine.

The award-winning Nikka Whisky From The Barrel blend is absolutely full of flavour. Bottled at 51.4% ABV. The blend combines both single malt and grain whiskies from the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries, which are then married in a huge variety of casks, including bourbon barrels, sherry butts and refill hogsheads. A huge depth of flavour in this stunning Japanese whisky. 

Nose: Medium-body with good balance. There are notes of cut flowers and fresh fruits, spice and a little oak.

Palate: Full-bodied and punchy. There is plenty of winter spice and toffee, a little caramel and vanilla and a good mouthful of fruit.

Finish: Long, warming and fruity with a little oaken spice.

Carefully honed by Production Director John Campbell, this is the first core expression from Lochlea Distillery.

Matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels, Oloroso Sherry casks and STR barriques. Non chill-filtered and Natural Colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Pear syrup, fruit bonbons, warm cut grass, marmalade
Palate: Golden syrup, pepper, rye bread, macadamia nuts, cream soda
Finish: Long finish with a lasting orange beeswax note