This warm mahogany whisky has an aroma of a depth complex fragrances from apples, vanilla, and ripe fruit and a whiff of orange zest on the nose and the palate is creamy with caramel, fruit, citrus, and a touch of dark chocolate. The finish is satisfyingly long.

For all the sherry fans out there we have this 1988 Vintage Auchentoshan. We all know that Auchentoshan are masters at fully triple distilling their whisky but they also mastered the art of sherry maturation here with this expression.

This limited edition Auchentoshan was distilled in 1988 and matured in Spanish oak casks and finished in PX sherry casks.

It was bottled some 29 years later in 2019 at 49.7%.
The resulting whisky has picked up the characteristics so well from the casks used and it is full of rich, sweet butterscotch and caramel flavours.

49.7% ABV

The Silvano’s Collection label is produced by Masam, an independent bottling company run by Maryse Accorsi Samaroli, the wife of the legendary Silvano Samaroli. The Samaroli firm has been run by Antonio Bleve since 2008, however casks from Silvano's private collection have also been bottled under the Singles of Silvano Samaroli banner. These were initially supervised by the man himself, but since his death in 2017, the tradition has been lovingly continued by his wife.

This whisky was distilled in 1967 and aged in single casks #4688 and #5425. It was bottled in 2018 to celebrate Samaroli's 50th anniversary in the whisky industry.

Tomintoul distillery was built in Speyside in 1965 by two whisky brokering companies. It was later acquired by the parent firm of Whyte & Mackay, and folded into their portfolio in 1973. While its main function was the provision of its blends, as with all of its distilleries, Whyte & Mackay also had faith in its appeal as a single malt. It was introduced in the iconic "perfume bottles" at the end of the 1970s. The single malt brand was given more of a focus when the distillery was bought by Angus Dundee in 2000, who also introduced a peated variant called Old Ballantruan in 2005. Bottles from independent labels have also been common over the years.

One of 180 bottles.

The third release in The Balvenie Stories range is a particularly rich and exciting 26 year old expression, title A Day of Dark Barley. It sounds quite ominous, doesn't it? Don't worry, here's a spoiler to the end of the story - it results in excellent whisky!

This expression harks back to a day in 1992, when Balvenie mashman Brian Webster and maltman Robbie Gormley took in a delivery of dark barley, kicking of a long experiment. Dark barley isn't a common sight in the whisky world - you're more likely to see it put to use in beer brewing, particularly those yummy stouts we hear people talking about. Turns out, it also makes yummy single malt. Ideal.

Nose: Big malty notes, soft brown sugar, vanilla toffee, blossom honey and a mild oaky spiciness.

Palate: Syrupy with a toffee sweetness, some citrusy notes of tangy orange peel, followed by oak vanilla and a touch of cinnamon and ginger spices at the end.

Finish: Enduring gentle waves of vanilla and oak spices.

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

Organic single malt from the brilliant Benromach Distillery, which was distilled back in 2011 and left to mature in virgin American oak casks until 2019. They use organically certified Scottish barley for this expression. An innovative, delicious tipple, this one.

Nose: Toasty oak with warming hints of cinnamon and ginger, balanced by juicy apricot and white grape.

Palate: Banana bread and coffee, with continued ginger heat. Layers of runny caramel as it develops.

Finish: Subtly peppery, with just a whisper of floral smoke lingering.

Wolfburn Distillery's fourth small-batch release, named Batch 155. Consisting of just 5300 bottles in total, it is the first whisky from Wolfburn to have been matured in one type of cask (first-fill ex-bourbon barrels for close to five years) then finished in another (six months in port hogsheads). 

The results are superb: a smooth, rich, easy drinking whisky, rich in colour and with a depth of sweet flavours from the port influence. Like previous Wolfburn small-batch releases, Batch 155 was named after the warehouse in which the casks were matured (Warehouse 1), and the specific row in which the casks were located (row 55).

This is the second batch of Auchentoshan's Virgin Oak. Aged in new North American oak casks, this triple-distilled Lowland whisky is rich, spicy and complex.

This new offering from Auchentoshan is one of their best of recent times. It mixes a lovely series of delicate, floral and fruity notes with a powerful kick of woody, oaky spice from the virgin oak casks, and does it very well

46% ABV

Situated on Scotland's rugged north coast, Wolfburn distillery was first established in 1821, rapidly becoming the largest distillery in Caithness at the time. Named after its water source ('burn' being the Scots word for stream). This new release from the distillery celebrates the Chinees New year of 2022, this year being the year of the tiger. Double distilled in small stills for fuller flavour.

46% ABV

Another wonderful Tomintoul from the Vintage Single Cask range, this one was distilled back in 1994 and rested in a single Oloroso sherry butt! Eventually, it was bottled up at cask strength, with an outturn of 681 bottles at 57.4% ABV, packing oodles of dark fruit and toffee.

Nose: Toffee sweetness with hints of ripe damsons, plums and berries. Vanilla and custard aromas join the medley

Palate: Exotic mix of sweet toffee, raisins, plums, glacé cherries and nutty nougat

Finish: Sweet to start then drying slowly with cigar box spiciness

57.4% ABV

Aged in American Oak (ex-bourbon) and distilled using peated grain sourced from Inverness – Scotland. This peated single malt expression has a distinctive style all of its own. Peaty characters play on the palate more gingerly than its Scottish peated counterparts. With more restraint, this expression represents the best of new world peated whisky interpretations. True Scotch lovers will be in awe of this delightfully surprising Tasmanian crafted drop

46.2% ABV

The perfect partnership of Hellyers Road Original Single Malt with a pinch of our peated single malt spirit. This whisky delivers a tangy, fruity flavour that lingers delightfully in the aftertaste. Aged in American Oak (ex-bourbon). This whisky is non-chill filtered or artificial colouring added.

It presents as a refreshing, alternative single malt that is most definitely worthy of your attention.

46.2% ABV

The Hellyers Road 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is aged in American white Oak (ex-Bourbon casks) and was first aged statement expression from Hellyers Road Distillery. First released in 2014, it quickly became Australia’s highest-selling, locally crafted single malts.

Highlighting distinctive signature citrus nuances, akin to the most unique distilleries of Scotland, it is fair to say, that no Australian distillery is comparative. The style is a subtle and delicate - the most welcoming whisky for any new enthusiasts

46.2% ABV

A 22-year-old single malt from Fettercairn, matured in ex-bourbon casks, creating aromas of banana bread, oranges, plum, raisins, figs and ginger bread on the nose. The palate offers notes of spiced pears, caramelised orange, coffee, liquorice, cherry and plum that linger in the finish.

47% ABV

A fruity, smoky single malt from Caperdonich, matured in barrels for 21 years before being bottled as part of the Secret Speyside Collection. Aromas of soft peat, bonfire ash and juicy oranges fill the nose, complemented by notes of herbal tea leaves, cool mint and wisps of peat smoke throughout the palate.

Caperdonich distillery was dismantled in its entirety back in 2011, making it not only closed, but firmly lost. As part of the Secret Speyside series, no fewer than six individual bottlings of Caperdonich single malt whiskies are now available to buy.

48% ABV