Blair Athol 1995 / Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 54.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A shingle sherry cask of Blair Athol 1995 bottled for Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series in 2009. A medium-full biscuity dram, with background notes of syrup and fudge.
£180.00 inc. VAT (£153.19 ex. VAT )  
 
Cragganmore 1997 / Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 59.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A full-strength Cragganmore 1997 bottled in 2009 from a single sherry cask by Diageo for their Manager’s Choice series.
£245.00 inc. VAT (£208.51 ex. VAT )  
 
Dalwhinnie 1992 Managers’ Choice
70cl / 51% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled for Diageo’s Manager’s Choice series, this single cask Dalwhinnie 1992 is a deliciously biscuity dram, with crisp malty notes and hints of cinnamon and lemon curd. A class act.
£245.00 inc. VAT (£208.51 ex. VAT )  
 
Dufftown 1997 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 59.5% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled as part of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series, this 1997 Dufftown is a rare official bottling from another of the company’s distilleries that rarely sees the light of day.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Glen Spey 1996 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 52% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled by Diageo as part of their Managers’ Choice series of single cask bottlings from each of their distilleries, this Glen Spey 1996 is creamy and nutty, with hints of coconut betraying its new American oak maturation. Best consumed neat.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Strathmill 1996 / Managers’ Choice
70cl / 60.1% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled in 2009 as part of the not-altogether-uncontroversial Manager’s Choice series, this Strathmill is one of the more interesting bottlings in the series, as one of only a tiny handful of official bottlings from this very obscure distillery, most of whose output goes into the J&B blend.
£195.00 inc. VAT (£165.96 ex. VAT )  
 
Talisker 1994 Managers’ Choice / Sherry Cask
70cl / 54.7% / Distillery Bottling
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
A single sherry cask of Talisker 1994 bottled at full strength as part of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series. Bandages and bonfire aromas on the nose give way to a turfy, palate with some citrus also evident before a sweet finish.
£290.00 inc. VAT (£246.81 ex. VAT )  
 
     
Caol Ila 1979 / 30 Year old
70cl / 55.6% / Berry Brothers & Rudd
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
From the ever-reliable Berry Bros comes this 30yo batch of two 1979 sister casks of Caol Ila, the unsung hero of Islay’s distilleries.
£86.99 inc. VAT (£74.03 ex. VAT )  
 
THE DALMORE 50 Year old – Candela
70cl / 45% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A very limited edition Dalmore, Candela has been created by master blender Richard Paterson from very old vintage stocks, with the youngest from 1951 and the oldest going all the way back to 1868. Just 77 bottles of this have been released.
£7,350.00 inc. VAT (£6,255.32 ex. VAT )  
 
Nikka Miyagikyo 1988
70cl / 50%
Japanese Single Malt Whisky
This single malt from Nikka’s Sendai distillery has been assembled from four styles of Miyagikyo malt (some peated, siome not) distilled in 1988 and matured in a mix of recharred and remade casks and a sherry butt. Sounds pretty good to us.
£230.00 inc. VAT (£195.74 ex. VAT )   
 
Macduff 1984 / 25 Year old / Sherry Butt
70cl / 52.2% / Berry Brothers & Rudd
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 25 year-old Macduff 1984 from a fresh sherry cask bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd. Their tasting notes are enticing, promising rich dried fruit aromas, liquorice and background smoke, a sweet fruity palate and dark toffee and peppery spice on the finish.
£73.49 inc. VAT (£62.54 ex. VAT )   
 
Springbank 18 Year old
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Campbeltown Malt Scotch Whisky
This is the second edition of Springbank’s 18yo, with a change of presentation to bring it into line with the rest of the range. The first edition of this was extremely popular, with more than a hint of sherry amongst the Springbank brine and smoke – let’s hope this follows suit.
£62.49 inc. VAT (£53.18 ex. VAT )   
 
Springbank CV New Edition
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Campbeltown Malt Scotch Whisky
It’s taken over a decade, but here we have the second edition of Springbank CV. After the widespread acclaim for the Longrow CV released in 2009, and the distillery’s recent renaissance after a couple of so-so years, we expect this to be one of the hits of 2010.
£28.49 inc. VAT (£24.25 ex. VAT )  
 
Sheep Dip Old Hebridean Vatted Malt / 1990
70cl / 40%
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
A deluxe edition of the popular Sheep Dip blended malt. This is apparently a vatting of Islay and Highland malts (Dalmore, Fettercairn and Ardbeg) distilled in or before 1990 and allowed to marry for over a decade in first fill oak casks. This should be excellent.
£44.75 inc. VAT (£38.09 ex. VAT )  
 
A slew of exciting new stuff this week, with the second tranche of Diageo’s Managers’ Choice series hitting the shelves alongside a pair of releases from Berry Bros and a couple of hotly-anticipated releases from Springbank – not to mention the small matter of the latest uber-premium Dalmore: the rather fabulous-looking 50yo Candela.
 
Blair Athol 1974 / 35 Year old / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A single refill hogshead of Blair Athol 1974, bottled by Douglas Laing for their Old Malt Cask range.
£97.49 inc. VAT (£82.97 ex. VAT )  
 
Benriach 18 Year old Gaja Barolo Finish
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A special Benriach 18 year-old, finished in casks previously containing Barolo wine from the famous Gaja estate.
£48.49 inc. VAT (£41.27 ex. VAT )  
 
Benriach 18 Year old Moscatel Finish
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A special Benriach 18 year old, finished in Portuguese Moscatel wine casks after an initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks.
£48.49 inc. VAT (£41.27 ex. VAT )  
 
Brora 1981 / 28 Year old / Old & Rare Platinum / Sherry Cask
70cl / 57.4% / Douglas Laing
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A single cask, cask-strength Brora 1981 bottled by Douglas Laing for their Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Just 93 bottles were yielded from the cask – maximum 1 per customer.
£377.00 inc. VAT (£320.85 ex. VAT )  
 
Parker’s Heritage Collection / Cask Strength
75cl / 64.8%
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A cask strength edition of the much sought-after Parker’s Heritage Collection bourbon, bottled at a staggering 64.8% abv.
£100.00 inc. VAT (£85.11 ex. VAT )  
 
Cragganmore 1989 / 20 Year old / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A rare outing for Cragganmore as an independent bottling – this is the first Douglas Laing release we’ve had from the distillery. It’s from the 1989 vintage and has been bottled from a single refill hogshead.
£62.49 inc. VAT (£53.18 ex. VAT )  
 
 Clynelish 1995 / 13 Year old / Sherry Butt
70cl / 58.2% / Signatory
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Another cask of Signatory’s superb full-strength sherried Clynelish, this is from the 1995 vintage and has been bottled at 13 years old.
£49.99 inc. VAT (£42.54 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Millstone 2000 / 8 Year old / French Oak
70cl / 40% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Single Malt Whisky
A bottling of 8yo Millstone, the Dutch single malt whisky from the Zuidam distillery. This is from the 2000 vintage and has had eight years of ageing in French oak casks.
£57.99 inc. VAT (£49.35 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Millstone 2000 / 8 Year old / American Oak
70cl / 43% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Single Malt Whisky
A bottling of Dutch single malt whisky Millstone, made at the Zuidam distillery in Holland. This 8yo is from the 2000 vintage and was matured in American oak.
£57.99 inc. VAT (£49.35 ex. VAT )  
 
Zuidam Dutch Rye 5 Year old
70cl / 40% / Distillery Bottling
Dutch Rye Whisky
A pure potstill rye whisky from innovative Dutch distillers Zuidam, this is made in small batches and aged five years before bottling. Time for a Dutch Manhattan, methinks.
£60.99 inc. VAT (£51.91 ex. VAT )  
 
Speyside 1991 / 18 Year old / Pomerol Wine Finish
70cl / 54.9% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
From ‘Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery’, Douglas Laing have selected this 1991 vintage 18yo, finished in a Pomerol wine cask (that’s posh claret to you & me). This release is the final 60th Anniversary edition, and has been subtitled ‘One for the Road’.
SOLD OUT
 
Glen Grant 1976 / 32 Year old / Sherry Butt / Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A beautiful deep, dark colour on this Glen Grant 1976, bottled from a single sherry butt by Douglas Laing for their Old Malt Cask range.
SOLD OUT
 
Glenlivet Nadurra / 16 Year old / Batch 1109I
70cl / 54.2% / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled in November 2009, this batch of Glenlivet Nadurra seeks to emulate the roaring success of the previous version. Nadurra is acknowledged as one of the best value cask-strength Speysides available, and is bottled at natural strength without colouring or chill-filtration.
£41.88 inc. VAT (£35.64 ex. VAT )  
 
Glenlivet 1995 / 14 Year old / 1st Fill Sherry Butt
70cl / 46% / Signatory
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 14 year-old Glenlivet 1995 bottled at 46% from a first-fill Sherry butt by top independent bottler Signatory. This looks like a treat.
£34.75 inc. VAT (£29.57 ex. VAT )  
 
 Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
70cl / 46% / Distillery Bottling
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
This Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX is the second of the distillery’s Private Collection bottlings after 2008’s release of Astar. Sonnalta PX has been finished in casks formerly containing Pedro Ximenez, a deliciously rich, sweet sherry. A great success at a recent TWE tasting in Vinopolis.
Whisky Bible 2010: Best Scotch New Brand; 96.5 Points
£58.99 inc. VAT (£50.20 ex. VAT )  
 
Invergordon 1965 / 44 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 45.4% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
An ancient single grain whisky from the Invergordon distillery, bottled by Douglas Laing for their Clan Denny range. This 1965 vintage has been bottled at a phenomenal 44 years old.
£108.00 inc. VAT (£91.91 ex. VAT )  
 
North British 1979 / 30 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 54.2% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
Another of Douglas Laing’s very old single grain whiskies bottled for their Clan Denny imprint. This is a 30yo North British 1979, bottled at natural cask strength.
£67.99 inc. VAT (£57.86 ex. VAT )  
 
North of Scotland 1974 / 35 Year old / Clan Denny
70cl / 44.1% / Douglas Laing
Single Grain Whisky
Another rare old single grain from Douglas Laing’s Clan Denny label. This North of Scotland 1974 has been aged in a refill hogshead for 35 years.
£81.99 inc. VAT (£69.78 ex. VAT )  
 
 Highland Park 1983 / 26 Year old/ Sherry Cask/ Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
A real find for Douglas Laing: a sherry hogshead of Highland Park 1983 – and probably first-fill judging by the colour of it. This one is likely to go pretty quick.
SOLD OUT
 
Highland Park Earl Magnus Edition One / 15 Year old
70cl / 52.6% / Distillery Bottling
Single Island Malt Scotch Whisky
Named after the saintly ruler of Orkney who perished at the hand of his treacherous cousin in the 12th century (and whose bones were discovered in the 1920s in the Kirkwall cathedral built in his honour), Earl Magnus is a 15yo cask strength Highland Park resplendent in the company’s best packaging job for years. As such, expect it to sell out in a heartbeat. Strictly 1 Per Person.
SOLD OUT
 
Chichibu 2008 Newborn Double Matured
70cl / 61.3% / Distillery Bottling
Japanese Malt Spirit
A young malt spirit from the new Chichibu distillery, owned and operated by Ichiro Akuto, whose family owned the old Hanyu distillery. This is some of the first spirit from Chichibu, distilled in the spring of 2008 and matured for a year in bourbon barrels before a four month finishing in new American oak hogsheads.
£62.75 inc. VAT (£53.40 ex. VAT )  
 
Chichibu Newborn 2009 Heavily Peated
70cl / 61.4% / Distillery Bottling
Japanese Malt Spirit
This is young, heavily-peated malt spirit from the Chichibu distillery, owned and run by Ichiro Akuto (of Hanyu and Card Series fame). Bottled at cask strength after three months maturation in a single new American oak hogshead.
£62.75 inc. VAT (£53.40 ex. VAT )  
 
Hanyu 1991 / Cask #370
70cl / 57.3%
Single Japanese Malt Whisky
Another single cask from the extinct Hanyu distillery, this 1991 vintage has been finished in Japanese Mizunara oak after an initial maturation in a hogshead.
£106.00 inc. VAT (£90.21 ex. VAT )  
 
Karuizawa 1976 Noh / 32 Year old / Sherry Butt #6719
70cl / 63% / Distillery Bottling
Single Japanese Malt Whisky
Another of the famous ‘Noh’ bottlings of Karuizawa featuring traditional Japanese theatre costumes on the label. This is a sherry butt from the 1976 vintage, bottled at a staggering 63% at 32 years old. This will go quickly, we predict – max 2 bottles per customer.
SOLD OUT
 
 Rare Ayrshire 1975 / 34 Year old
70cl / 46.9% / Signatory
Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky
A coup for Signatory, this bourbon-matured Ayrshire 1975 is one of only a handful of bottlings of malt from the extinct Lowlander Ladyburn (not to be confused with the yet-to-exist distillery Ladybank).
£135.00 inc. VAT (£114.89 ex. VAT )  
 
 Laphroaig 1990 / 19 Year old
70cl / 52.9% / Signatory
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
A cask-strength Laphroaig 1990 bottled from a single bourbon barrel by Signatory – this should be very good.
£61.49 inc. VAT (£52.33 ex. VAT )  
 
Macallan 1990 / 19 Year old / Red Wine Finish/ Old Malt Cask
70cl / 50% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A bit of a rarity here – a wine-finished Macallan. This 19yo Macallan 1990 started life in a refill hogshead, before an finishing period in a red wine cask. Bottled by Douglas Laing for the Old Malt Cask range.
£72.49 inc. VAT (£61.69 ex. VAT )  
 
Macallan 1988 / 21 Year old
70cl / 46% / Signatory
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A twenty-one year-old Signatory bottling of Macallan 1988, bottled from a small batch of hogsheads at 46%.
£49.99 inc. VAT (£42.54 ex. VAT )  
 
Nikka In Tube Gift Pack
20cl / 44.08%
A smart set of ‘test-tube’ style miniature 4cl bottles of various Nikka whiskies. Pack includes Nikka Pure Malts (Red, White and Black), Nikka All Malt and Nikka From the Barrel.
Please note that this is a set of five 4cl bottles
£26.99 inc. VAT (£22.97 ex. VAT )  
 
 Miltonduff 1991 / 18 Year old
50cl / Distillery Bottling
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A 50cl bottle from Chivas Brothers’ little-seen Miltonduff distillery, most of whose output is used for blends. This is a cask strength 18yo from 1991.
£44.99 inc. VAT (£38.29 ex. VAT )  
 
Mortlach 1992 / 17 Year old / Old & Rare Platinum Selection
70cl / 56.1% / Douglas Laing
Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
A cask-strength Mortlach 1992 from what we’re guessing was a pretty active cask, judging by the colour. Bottled in 2009 by Douglas Laing for their Old & Rare Platinum Selection. Just 59 bottles of this released – maximimum 1 per customer.
SOLD OUT
 
Old Pulteney 1974
70cl / 43% / Gordon & Macphail
Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
A recently-bottled Old Pulteney 1974 from Gordon & Macphail – and judging by the colour, we’re guessing a goodly proportion of it is from sherry casks. This should be very good.
£83.99 inc. VAT (£71.48 ex. VAT )  
 
Port Ellen 1982 / Connoisseurs Choice
70cl / 43% / Connoisseurs Choice
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
A recent bottling of Port Ellen 1982 released by Gordon & Macphail for their Connoisseurs Choice series. This is from refill sherry casks.
£132.00 inc. VAT (£112.34 ex. VAT )  
 
St George American Single Malt Whiskey
75cl / 43% / Distillery Bottling
American Malt Whiskey
A very exciting product – American single malt! St. George is made in a tiny copper potstill in Alameda, California, and should not be confused with the England’s St. George distillery in Norfolk.
£44.95 inc. VAT (£38.25 ex. VAT )