New Arrivals: Port Ellen & Friends

Spring is upon us and Soho is coming out of hibernation. People are starting to mass outside the cafés and bars, the red lights are shining brighter, and, as I write this, the Square bustles with people escaping the office for lunch. If you need a reason to venture into the West End before sundown we have a host of exciting new releases all for your delectation!

Port Ellen 1982 – Mackillop’s Choice – £650
56.2%abv – Single Cask Yield of 306 Bottles

Closed in 1983, the Port Ellen distillery continues to hold its fans in rapture. As we inevitably inch closer to the bottling of the final cask, we have got our grubby mitts on this delicious little number. Bottled from Cask 1511 after 31 years and 10 months of cask ageing, this is classic Port Ellen. Plenty of lemon zest and chamois leather on the nose with additional driftwood and charcoal. A sweet syrupy mouth feel and a long briny finish. Simply superb.

The first person to buy one of these online will win a free sample of the whisky, because we’re good like that!

Springbank 21 Year Old – £195.95
46%abv – Strictly limited to 1 bottle per customer

This is the third release of the 21 Year Old that we’ve received in as many years. A fruit forward whisky with less of the oiliness of the noble 18 Year Old. Masses of nectarine and peach flavours with a stupendously long finish. This may be a whisky that will nestle comfortably into any collection but makes for an excellent drinking whisky if you’re looking for something that offers age and quality in tandem.

Arran 17 Year Old – £69.95
46%abv – Limited Release of 9000 bottles

Port Ellen may be the Knightsbridge of the whisky world: expensive and desirable in Louboutin heels, but the Isle of Arran distillery is the up-and-coming borough where people roll their trousers up and don’t wear socks. Established in 1995, Arran has gone on to produce a top quality single malt, and this year they have released their first 17 Year Old. This whisky is all about the orchard fruits: cox apple, conference pear followed by crème fraiche and a hint of parma violet. With a delicate mouth feel and a relaxed finish.