A fruity, clean and polished malt with a touch of honey and spice, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is an excellent introduction to this Highland distillery. This smooth, sweet dram offers rich rewards for those who like to dig deeper. This is a whisky that is one step beyond the conventional, mainstream offerings and a more interesting choice than the classic malts commonly available.
Launched in October of 2005, this 21 year old lies at the core of the Aberfeldy range and is something of a flagship for the brand. A superb example of what the distillery can produce.
ABERFELDY 21 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKY
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Honey, fruity. Thick malt, enlivened by a fresh, zesty quality.
Palate: Smooth, vanilla, undulating, refined smoke.
Finish: Peters out gently, perhaps some ripe white peach notes and a good wave of honey.
The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour’s new distillate is deftly softened by double cask maturation.
12 Year Old Scotch Whisky Double Cask
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Soft and rounded with fruity notes of red apple.
PALATE: A fine Sherried character, fruity aromas balanced with rich chocolate.
FINISH: Warm and lingering. Sweet and spicy.
Single malt Japanese whisky from the Akashi range, produced by White Oak in Hyogo, just west of Kobe. This non-age-statement release ought to prove rather interesting for whisky adventurers looking to try something new.
TASTING NOTES
Nose- The aromas have alight fruit notes with malt, spice, iodine, and apricot.
Palate- The palate is light and soft with hints of red apples, toffee, and local herbs.
Amrut Fusion gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish - with the latter being peated for good measure. Fusion has been picking up awards ever since it first appeared in 2009, and in 2012 was named the best whisky for a Rob Roy in the Ultimate Cocktail Challenge in New York.
TASTING NOTES
Aroma- Rich, barley, fruity. Big on citrus, spices, creamy sweetness. A hint of peat.
Palate- Oaky, rich, gentle peat, coffee, dark chocolate. Fruity.
Finish- Long, spiced, marmalade, sweetness.
Amrut's flagship Indian single malt, showing their signature character of spice, fruit and honey. Bottled at 46%, it has the depth of flavour needed to properly showcase the distillery.
Ardbeg 10 Years Old is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky that is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008.
TASTING NOTES
Eye: Light Gold. The natural light gold colour is due to the non-chill filtration that Ardbeg distillery uses to create this single malt.
Nose: A burst of intense smoky fruity peat infused with zesty lemon and lime, wrapped in waxy dark chocolate.
Tongue: An explosion of crackling peat with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee.
End note: Long and smoky with tarry espresso, aniseed, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.
The blending skills at Ballantine’s have long been renowned. The 17 has always seemed the most eloquent demonstration of that. Beautifully composed and mature – WHISKY MAGAZINE
TASTING NOTES
Colour: Clear, golden amber.
Nose: Smooth vanilla and oak with a sensation of smoke.
Taste: Full and complex, vibrant honey sweetness and creamy vanilla flavours with hints of oak and spicy liquorice.
Finish: Long, sweet and smooth with a hint of spice.
EUROPE’S NO.1 SCOTCH WHISKY & VOTED WORLD’S BEST BLENDED SCOTCH 2020, WITH A RECIPE THAT HAS STAYED TRUE TO IT’S ORIGINAL SINCE 1910.
TASTING NOTES
Colour: Light gold.
Nose: Soft, elegant, heather honey aromas with a hint of spice.
Taste: A balance of subtle, sweet flavours like milk chocolate, red apple and vanilla.
The heart of the Bowmore range, the 12 year old exhibits some beautiful coastal notes with a gentle peat, it is the balance that the floral element presents that makes this a great entry bottling for Bowmore.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Subtle lemon and honey, balanced beautifully by Bowmore's trademark peaty smokiness.
Palate: Lovely and rounded, honeyed even, initially. Vanilla, perfumed smoke and coastal elements develop. Dark Peat. Blossom, oily sweetness.
Finish: Smoky and long. Sea spray, dry grass, a touch of ash and citrus.
Jim has now retired but the spirit for this definitive Bruichladdich is still made from 100% Scottish barley, trickle distilled, and then matured for its entire life, on Islay, by the shores of Loch Indaal.
Bruichladdich Classic Laddie Scottish Barley
TASTING NOTES
NOSE- A hint of sea spray, but rich and plush, with punchy fruit and floral aromas.
PALATE- Enticing mix of creaminess and salinity – rich and refreshing.
FINISH- Nice balance between the sprightly fruit and tangy sea-spray elements.
A more robust barley profile, it’s a nice step up from 1858 or Reserve. This award-winning blended spirit is aged for 12 years in seasoned, char-treated oak bourbon barrels.
Spending 12 years quietly mellowing in seasoned bourbon barrels gives this its robust and complex character. It pours a brilliant gold and offers a delicate nose of ripe banana, and dried fruit; the palate is rich and round with light spice, vanilla, and fruit character followed by a long, dry finish.