Isle of Arran 14yo (56.3%, OB, Premium Cask Selection, C#719, 520 Bts., D’09/05/97 B’11/08/11)

A series from the Isle of Arran distillers that reflects that the Premium Cask Selection are their very best whiskies. The undiluted nose is overripe fruit, dried cherries, raisins with hints of vanilla and without a doubt sherry with a little backing from some malt. Enjoyable to say the least. With the addition of a little water the nose opens up but remains true to form. The undiluted taste is vibrant with some good fizz and then the sherry and malt arrive in equal doses and the flavour builds and builds, a cascade of sherry and malt. With water once again it remains true to the undiluted sample however it has been tamed some what (not dulled) and is still quite excellent. The finish is very active, after a moment or two there is some of the really good sherry as previously mentioned, the malt and then some unlit cured tobacco and finally the malt takes over. The finish is very, very long. It is all very good…

A must…

£62 available from Loch Fyne Whiskeis and the Whisky Exchange

92 points

Maker’s 46 (47%, OB, +/- 2010)

Kentucky Bourbon Whisky Barrel Finished With Oak Staves. The nose is a light dusting of grains and floral notes backed with a very rich sweetness that is intoxicatingly good. There is also some fruit (more tree than berries) which adds to the whole heady experience. The taste is lashings and layers of complex flavours that roil over each other and the mind cannot keep up. Grain notes, sweetness, a little leather and bitter dark chocolate. Really very good. The finish is some black cracked pepper, cinnamon, clove, dark cold unsweetened tea and cedar planks. It goes on forever.

Fantastic.

A steal at $55

Score 90 points

Macallan NAS Cask Strength (58.6%, OB, Sherry Oak, +/- 2010)

Rumored to be discontinued (perhaps only in some markets) on the nose there is deep rich sherry notes with a good oiliness lurking and lots of dried fruit; apricots, plums and raisins. Perhaps even some tinned fruit salad and some really nice oak notes, but not over whelming, very much as an accent and a welcome addition. All in all a very good collection of aromas. Perhaps some coffee grounds in the back ground; yet another layer of richness. The taste is equally sherried and of oak influence at first and then a quick change to all sherry quickly followed by some very assertive dryness but still very evocative of the cask which adds to the flavour. Again everything works very well together to make a complete picture and a lovely one at that. The finish is very warming and very long with some of the oiliness reappearing but the tussle between the sherry and the oak continues.

A delightful Macallan; if you can find a bottle, buy it.

$96

Score 89 points

Visit The Macallan at www.macallan.com

Benromach 21yo (43%, OB, +/-2010)

An extremely nice sweetness on the nose (very clean also) followed by some fresh hay, mild cut grass and light fruity sherry notes. Hints of grapefruit and oak spice and sweet malt (perhaps Carr’s Sweet Meal biscuits?). The sherry notes increase with time in the glass and the fresh hay and cut grass dissipates. The taste is lightly sherried and very, very good, a little tobacco or leather in the back ground and some dark chocolate makes a showing. All quite excellent. A little malt emerges and this works well with the other descriptors. Some what gentle taste which is quite welcome. The finish is more of the sherry and the oak spice and dark chocolate along with a tiny hint of heather which is a surprise. The finish is quite long and holds together for a very long time; a little more of the cask shows towards the end but not as a spoiler but as a reminder of the constituent parts.

Yet another grand whisky from Benromach and very well heeled.

$130

Score 90 points

Visit Benromach at www.benromach.com

Benromach Peat Smoke 2002/2010 (46%, OB, Batch #3, 1st Fill Bourbon)

From the third batch of Peat Smoke from Benromach distillery peated to 35 PPM and matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels for 8 years. The nose is of juniper, peat smoke and bourbon, a heady combination. Very vibrant, some pleasant malt fights past the juniper for attention dragging some cocoa by the hand behind. The taste is smooth and peated however the peat smoke is not massive but just right (shades of the Three Bears here) and is also showing some dryness with a little bandages and hints of Dettol. Actually much like many young Islay. All good. The finish is dry and smokey but with the malt and other cereal notes taking over here. The juniper makes a reappearance and is joined by a little ground black pepper. It’s very, very long and filled with peat smoke…

An Islay lovers dream

$70

Score 88 points

Visit Benromach Distillery at www.benromach.com

Port Ellen 29yo (55.3%, OB, 6618 Bts., ‘1978, 8th Annual Release)

A very un – Islay like aromas (nose) at first but still very pleasant; it’s only after some time in the glass that the peat smoke to make its presence felt. There’s some really nice sweetness lurking at the bottom of the glass. Perhaps a little water will shake things up. A good splash of water open things a little but mainly brings out some lemon notes. The undiluted taste is quite strong and the peat smoke is VERY evident now and very good along with some very nice citrus and Hobnob biscuits. Big with oily moments and the ever present peat reek and moments of deep black coal and creosote. A late arrival of the malt (perhaps changed from the Hobnobs). With water it is very much a less aggressive dram and slightly sweeter but the charming notes of pre dilution hang in there. The finish is nicely warming with a really good inter play between the peat reek and the malt but now joined by some dryness and pepper. A very long finish indeed.

Yet another grand Port Ellen.

$225

Score 90 points

Glen Grant 41yo (49.4%, G&M, Refill Sherry HHd, C#6718, D28/11/’66 B25/09/’08)

A private bottling for Kensington Wine Mart in Calgary Alberta. On the nose a gentle collection of aromas from the off set but very, very fruity however not fresh fruit but dried and macerated in rum or brandy. Dried plums, apricots, a little rich Christmas cake, toffee and rich vanilla bean. All very lovely with some hints of sandal wood or cedar in the back ground and some cereal notes. The taste now shows a little bit of the lumber in the fore court but then the sherry and dried fruit take over followed by some dryness (actually quite a lot) which morphs into some chili peppers. The finish is warming, big and very much of the wood notes and very, very dry however some good fruit makes an appearance at the last.

A spicy and active whisky.

$450 (but the last few bottles are on sale at 25% off!)

Score 90 points

Glenglassaugh 29yo (53%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon C#2368, 290 Bts., D’17/12/’76 B10/08’06)

An individual single cask offering from A. Dewar Rattray the independent bottler and bottled without chill filtration or added colour. The undiluted nose is quite strong along with fruit and dusty malt; a little leather hides in the back ground. Time in the glass brings out a sensational richness with a glorious increase in the amount of fruit. With water the sample turns a little fragrant. The undiluted taste is quite strong and active; some malt and fruit manages to make themselves known and some really good oak spice and tobacco tussle for preeminence. With water things mellow out and it’s naturally sweeter and slightly syrupy in the mouth. Some good black pepper is quite evident to add to the mix. The malt is very evident and active. The finish is all fruit and malt (with a little of the oak spice thrown in) and then surprise, surprise a little orange pops up just to make things interesting at the very end. Water increases the length of the finish dramatically.

Another quality cask from A. Dewar Rattray.

$200

Score 89 points

Amrut NAS 100 (57.1%%, OB, 2011)

After the Amrut Peated Single Malt Whisky had been matured in ex-bourbon casks, the whisky was emptied into brand new 100 litre handmade virgin casks for a further year in the tropical climate of Bangalore. The nose is very good, some peat smoke shows right out of the gate along with a hint of effervescence, some really sensational cocoa powder (unsweetened), black tea with a deep rich earthiness and some dark fruit cake. Quite sensational. The taste is of the cocoa powder, then changes for the briefest of moments to Cadbury’s Milk followed by the earthy malt and loads of peat smoke. Again still very sensational. A heady mix of the cocoa and peat smoke to be sure. To hell with water, this is brilliant as it is. The finish is long, peppery and filled with some excellent oak spice, cocoa, a little rose and then the peat smoke come crashing to the fore. Everything fills the head, a veritable assault.

Sensational. What a treat.

Advance sample no price available

Score 90 points

Amrut NAS Two Continents 2nd Edition (50%, OB, 2011)

Available in the United States, Canada, Europe and Taiwan. Bananas, cough syrup on the nose along with a good earthiness with the addition of some buttery richness, buttered raisin buns and grapefruit rinds. Over ripe fruit and aged musical instruments also pop into the picture. Malt and bees wax. Time for some water; things have settled down with a little more on the sweet side revealing itself, all very good. The undiluted taste is much gentler than the Herald but still gives them a run for their money. Some good solid vibrancy here and then some malt and fruit but still very peppery. With water it slows down and the sweetness is revealed, syrupy and very good. There’s also now some hints of heather or roses; just a tinge of some floral notes adds to the whole picture. The addition of water is very welcome; don’t be afraid to add a good splash. The finish is very BIG and very long, again lots of fruit, pepper, oak spice, MALT (almost like a sweet meal biscuit) and some good hard candies.

Another excellent example from Amrut

Advance sample no price available

Score 88 points

Amrut NAS Herald (60.8%, OB, C#2857, 231 Bts, 2011)

A single cask bottling matured for four years in India and then a further 18 months in Helgoland, Germany. The alcohol strength has dropped from 64.8% to 60.8% upon maturation in Helgoland. The nose is very sharp and filled with sour cherries, lemon zest, a little pot-pouri, juniper and mint. The cask influence is evident which only adds to the whole picture. A good dollop of water does nothing to change the nose (so far so good!). The undiluted taste is very much Amrut however it’s very vibrant with a very good combination of fruit and oak spice, black pepper and chilies. The water helps to tame this wild beastie a little…and now it’s much more sociable with some aromatic wood and some toast (white bread, unbuttered). A little green apples and hints of some cold bacon. Still a very big whisky with lots of very good things going on. Prior to water being added the finish is HUGE, lashings of chilies, dryness from the cask and then as a reward for having survived this far some good fruit and sweetness. After the addition of water the sample is still very active with sandalwood and even more pepper.

A truly amazing whisky that takes water and shrugs if off unnoticed.

Advance sample no price available

Score 88 points

Many thanks to Ashok Chokalingham for the samples.

Speyburn 25yo Solera (46%, OB, +/-2010)

Many may be familiar with the Speyburn 10 year old, Speyburn Braden Orach and now the Speyburn 25yo. That’s it, three whiskies to choose from. But we have the oldest to take a peak at. The nose is fragrant with heather and roses at first however this quickly is taken over by some sturdier notes in the form of malt, bees wax and warmed brown sugar (think of it in the pan just before the butter goes in). All in all it’s heady combination, some lemon on there some where or even some lemon lavender cake icing? Again it’s very good. The taste is fragrant malt (a bit of the malt and some of the heather and roses) however then the oak spice and cold sweetened tea make an appearance along with some cocoa. Not an off note in the whole picture and a very solid flavour profile. The finish is a rush of malt and icing sugar all tinged with some oak spiciness (think of black pepper and cinnamon), the later moments are quite dry but the sweetness is there also.

Very, very nice and lively

$100

Score 88 points

Visit Speyburn at www.speyburn.com