ARCHIVES First Release Now available at http://shop.whiskybase.com/

GLEN GRANT 1975 Arc 46.6%, 36-year-old , Hogshead #5476, 81 bottles This Glen Grant is the oldest one of the ARCHIVES First Release. There were only 81 bottles left is this hogshead. Maybe the warehouse keepers liked it too? Nose: grand old whisky full of fruit: raspberries, strawberries, prunes, flowers, oak, nutmeg and some cardamom Taste: raspberry cream, ripe banana, honey, bay leaf, liquorice, grapes, lemon grass Finish: red fruit, oak, macarons and a little pepper.

DAILUAINE 1983 Arc 47.3%, 28-year-old , Hogshead #865, 265 bottles Dailuaine is one of main components of Johnnie Walker blends. Sometimes a good cask goes to an independent bottler… Nose: soft citrus with vanilla, caramel, toffee and butter. A bit later fruits like strawberry, apple, cider, plum blossom and mangoes Taste: a sweet mix of buckthorn, grapefruit, marzipan and again the strawberries together with fresh cake Finish: a lingering finish with lemon zest, honey, vanilla with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

GLEN GARIOCH 1990 Arc 54.0%, 21-year-old , Hogshead #252, 267 bottles A clean and green whisky from a little known distillery in the Eastern Highlands. Nose: green tea, mineral, caramel, fudge, lilly, mead, apricots, cherries Taste: chocolate, sweets, apple, honey, heather, peaches Finish: long, oranges, heather and camphor.

LEDAIG 2004 Arc 61.9%, 7-year-old , Hogshead #900009, 302 bottles This young but powerful whisky comes from the Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull. Nose: flinty, zesty, peaty, very clean, honey, sweet, BBQ smoke Taste: smoky, lemony, grain, wool, ginger, cardamom, butterfudge and salt, easy drinkable for such a strong whisky even without water Finish: peaty, zesty, minty, fresh sea breeze, marmelade.