Cask No. 36.76                       $150

A sweet Winter Warmer

Speyside, Spey

A lush and intense sweet oaky aroma was the first impression on the nose neat. Out of the many descriptors the ones we all agreed on; honey glazed parsnips, honey dew melon, freshly baked croissants, Danish cinnamon swirls and freshly made tablet. The intensity and sweetness continued in the taste; tingly, warm, spicy oak tannins, iced gingerbread and a dry finish of cocoa powder. Water added a floral dimension with roses and carnations and the spiciness of stewed apples and apple crumble with ginger and nutmeg. The taste now lively like popping candy, fizzy sweet cola cubes and sour apple fruit jellies in the finish.

Drinking tip: After a long walk

Colour: Gold with a peach tint

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 17 years

Date Distilled: November 1996

Alcohol: 59.3%

USA allocation: 48 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

 

Cask No. 35.109                             $215

A class act

Speyside, Lossie

This dram oozes class therefore give it some time, don’t rush and you will be richly rewarded. Aromas of Millionaire’s shortbread, lemon, orange and banana marzipan fruits, baked apple filled with pecan, cinnamon and raisins, brandy butter ice cream, sandalwood and fresh tobacco leaves are all jostling for your full attention. The taste is silky smooth like runny honey or toffee sauce, Sauternes soaked raisins coated in dark chocolate and an elegant cup of jasmine tea with a slice of marzipan cake. Careful adding water; turning slightly dusty and nutty like Alpen muesli with macadamia nuts as well honey glazed walnuts and an overall pleasant creamy mouth-feel.

Drinking tip: We recommend adding no water or very little!

Colour: Honeycomb

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 28 years

Date distilled: March 1985

Alcohol: 46.7%

USA allocation: 48 bottles

Flavour profile: Old & dignified

 

Cask No. G4.7                        $170

Flying saucers and foamy shrimps

Grain

The initial nose was bright, fresh and lively (lemon, rhubarb, pine resin); then came Demerara, Christmas cake, candy floss, vanilla, toffee and golden syrup – followed by cedar-wood and tobacco. The palate displayed delightful sweetness (maple syrup, crème brûlée, white chocolate) tempered by mouth-drying tobacco, white pepper, liquorice and a surprising gooseberry fizz. Amazingly vibrant for its age, the reduced nose combined rum and raisin ice-cream, flying saucers, lychee and grape with pine resin and restrained oak. The palate sustained our interest – old oak, tobacco and figs, tropical juice and foamy shrimps combined to make an easy-drinking experience from Scotland’s biggest distillery.

Drinking tip: We all had different ideas – so I guess that makes it a versatile dram for any season

Colour: Polished gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 34 years

Date Distilled: May 1979

Alcohol: 51.9%

USA allocation: 72 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla 

 

Cask No. 121.74                     $135

A box of Chocs

Highland, Island

Sweet caramel on the nose – Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers to be exact – then Newberry Fruits (sugar–covered fruit jellies with runny centres), then a host of other fruity scents – mango, light orange, raspberry, apricot. The first taste matches some of this – ‘mango cream fondant chocolate’; ‘Thornton’s Summer Fruit Chocolates’ – but there is also a tropical spiciness like mango chutney with a dash of chilli. With water the nose folds into emulsion paint for a moment before resuming the fruity/chocolate theme – Maltesers, Bakewell tart, croissant with strawberry jam, white chocolate. The taste? Sweet and fruity (Gallia melon), with light spice and peppermint Aero in the finish.

Drinking tip: After school

Colour: Sahara gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 14 years

Date distilled: December 1999

Alcohol: 55.7%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla 

 

Cask No. 3.227                       $145

Tasty Farmhouse cooking

Islay

The room was immediately filled with the warm and rich smells of a beef consommé with a good splash of aged Sherry added. This we then poured over an old fashioned rabbit casserole with rosemary, celery and roasted carrots and let it simmer on a wood burning stove. The taste is good farmhouse cooking, intense flavours of fresh tomato soup as well as honey roasted sweet potatoes prepared with ginger, cumin and coriander. With water a sweet earthy note is added reminding some of us of compost using pine sawdust and pine needles or of peat stacks out to dry. The taste now welcoming and juicy like a tender pork stew with light herb dumplings.

Drinking tip: Whilst cooking for or with friends

Colour: Polished copper pots and pans

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 16 years

Date distilled: September 1997

Alcohol: 56.4%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Lightly peated

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