Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Collection of Limited-Edition Chocolates in Time for Christmas

Loch Lomond Whiskies has collaborated with an artisan chocolatier to release an assortment of limited-edition whisky-paired chocolates.

The beautifully presented luxury truffles were handcrafted by Cocoa Ooze to pair perfectly with three 12 Year Old expressions by Loch Lomond Whiskies, each showcasing the flavour profiles of the distillery’s signature style of fruit, honey and soft smoke.

The collaboration, set for release today (Thursday 11 November) in time for Christmas, is designed to accentuate the flavours and enhance the tasting experience of Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Perfectly Balanced, plus Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin and Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan, both part of the Loch Lomond Islands Collection. Each whisky has been paired with bespoke chocolate truffles, designed to complement the hero flavours in each expression.

LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD PAIRED WITH MILK CHOCOLATE AND APRICOT

Whisky and chocolate lovers will find a real balance to these flavours, with the milk chocolate offering a soft and luxurious, velvety texture. Selected for its simplicity, the apricot also allows the fruit flavour of the whisky to really shine through. This perfectly balanced whisky has delicious notes of peach and pear layered with vanilla sweetness and a gentle hint of smoke on the finish.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old paired with Milk Chocolate Apricot

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40

 LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD INCHMURRIN PAIRED WITH MILK CHOCOLATE, ORANGE AND CINNAMON

For this pairing, the orange flavours within the milk chocolate showcase the supercharged sweet elements of Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin. Cinnamon was also added to add complexity and compliment the delicious notes of peach, apricot, toffee and vanilla which this unique expression is famous for.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin paired with Milk Chocolate, Orange and Cinnamon 

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40 

LOCH LOMOND 12 YEAR OLD INCHMOAN PAIRED WITH DARK CHOCOLATE AND SEA SALT

To accentuate the complex, warming spice elements of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ smokey expression, Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan, a rich dark chocolate base was selected as the canvas with a hint sea salt. This extraordinary combination of flavours creates a bittersweet taste, where the intricate ingredients marry together to offer an exciting tasting experience.

Inchmoan showcases the soft smoke and warming spice elements of the distillery’s signature style with delicious notes of wood and peat smoke, roasted coffee, green apple with clove and aniseed spice on the finish.

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmoan paired with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt

70 cl, ABV 46%, RRP £40

As part of the chocolate-pairing journey, Loch Lomond Whiskies’ Master of the Quaich, Bill White, worked closely with Jamie Hutcheon, owner and master chocolatier at Cocoa Ooze, who founded his business in 2008 at the age of 17.

Documented in a short film, Bill and Jamie explore how flavours can work to complement and enhance one another, discuss optimum whisky and chocolate pairings, and delve into the synergies between chocolate production and whisky distilling.

The release of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ dedicated chocolates marks the first in a series of collaborations designed to tell the story of flavour selection, with additional releases anticipated in spring 2022.

Bill White (L) and Jamie Hutchinson (R)

Bill White, Master of the Quaich at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“While very different products, chocolate and whisky follow similar journeys. Both require high levels of craftsmanship, creativity and patience to reach perfection.

“There is a complexity to both processes, and even the slightest change can have a huge impact on the final flavour profiles.

“These age expressions are a great example of how we use different distilling techniques to showcase a spectrum of flavours here at Loch Lomond Whiskies. For this reason, it was crucial to take the time to find the right chocolate pairings which really enhance these flavours.

“Jamie’s commitment to his craft is inspiring to see, and working with him has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I hope our limited-edition chocolates will take whisky enthusiasts on an exciting new journey to explore new flavours and better understand the complexities behind our craft.”

Jamie Hutcheon, Founder at Cocoa Ooze, said:

“Cacao beans to make chocolate can take up to seven years to grow. Much like whisky distilling, time and patience are essential in creating the finished product.

“Balancing flavours is an intricate job, but the final product is beautifully simple. This collaboration with Loch Lomond Whiskies brings together the arts of distillation and tempering to create a unique and special product.

“Our base chocolate has notes of natural vanilla, nutty and earthy tones, which really balances the fruit, sweet honey and soft smoke of Loch Lomond Whiskies 12 Year Old expressions.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Bill and the Loch Lomond Whiskies team, and a real testament to what can be achieved with creativity and imagination.”

The Loch Lomond Whiskies Islands Collection captures the distiller’s ingenuity in whisky making and the master blender’s craft in emphasizing specific flavours. Each of the three expressions are distilled in a combination of traditional swan neck stills and unique straight-neck pot stills, which allow for greater control over the flavours.

To purchase Loch Lomond Whiskies flavour matched chocolates, please visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/pages/cocoa-ooze-chocolates

Pricing details for each set can be found below:

• Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40
• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old Single Malt – £40

A series of short films about the collaboration is available to view:

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN8ZNlIqbnY&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH8S6PiHcKU&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak&index=2

Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0bpQW39y2o&list=PLQt4S_af9LF5YDTE1Ea13wJyM7zAjcZak&index=3

For more information about Loch Lomond Whiskies, please visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/

For more information about Cocoa Ooze, please visit: www.cocoa-ooze.co.uk/

After a tough time last year, party season is well and truly back and we plan on celebrating in style – no prohibition here! To get you in a festive mood, we’ve selected 14 new casks to spark your imagination and make you glad that prohibition is a thing of the past! You’ll find much sought-after distilleries, a Heavily Peated flavour profile gem and a brand-new small batch blended malt expression – the difficult part will be choosing which one to try first!

ALL BOTTLES ONLINE NOW

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Tormore 32 Years

1998 vintage single cask for the Old & Rare Platinum series.

Shop Tormore 32yo »

Tormore 32 Year Old 1988 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill sherry butt bottled April 2021 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare series. 203 bottles. This beautiful dark golden coloured whisky has a well-rounded, sweet nose of vanilla, rich fruits, and prunes, with a hint of caramel. On the palate it is smooth and mellow with vanilla tablet, butterscotch, raisins, and sultanas, leaving a long, lingering finish with a hint of fruit.

Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.

K&L Exclusive: The Most Exciting Single Cask We’ll See All Year
Amrut 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt #3890 Unpeated Indian Barley Indian Single Malt Whisky

“This gorgeous ex-Oloroso butt is easily the best Indian malt I’ve ever had and one of the most delicious malts of any kind I’ve had in at least the last year.”

 David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

We’re used to seeing some incredibly singular spirits come through our doors via our Exclusive Cask program, but we’re certain we’ve never seen anything like this otherworldly 6 Year Old Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt Single Malt from India’s iconic Amrut distillery. Our spirits team has been waiting with baited breath for years to bring you a single-cask bottling from this inimitable producer, and today’s the day. Amrut runs their production much like an old-school Scotch distillery, with hands-on craftsmanship taking precedence over modern automation. The results are some of the most unique and authentic whiskies in the world, made all the more so by the intense, sub-tropical climate in which they age. Our own David Othenin-Girard was completely blown away by this indescribably beguiling cask when he called it “simply one of my favorite whiskies in the shop right now and maybe ever. A true gem.” With the kind of depth, density, and complexity we normally find in whiskies with over two decades of age behind them, this Amrut 6 Year Old cask presents an unparalleled expression that simply must be experienced to be believed. Collectors should beat a hasty path to get their hands on a bottle or three, because there is literally nothing else like it in the world of fine spirits.

Amrut 6 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt #3890 Unpeated Indian Barley Indian Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

K&L Notes: The award winning Amrut Distillery has been producing spirits in Bangalore since the 1940s, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the Amrut Single Malt was properly launched. The main plant where Amrut is made was built in 1987 and eschews the use of automation and computerization in favor of hands-on work. Production is very similar to Scottish single malt, save for the extreme climatic differences. The increased heat and humidity mean extremely fast maturation and high angel’s share. For all that we love about the wonderful Amrut malts, our one complaint has been the lack of availability of single-cask expressions. Until now!!! This is the first-ever single-cask offering from the exceptional Indian distiller and solidifies its place among the great malt purveyors by highlighting the true potential of raw, unblended single casks aged in the Bangalore heat. While this whisky carries a 6-year age statement, it drinks easily as if it had spent 20-25 years in barrel in Scotland. Unprecedented depth and richness, plus an altogether classic level of balance that is very rare for tropically aged malts. Many may skip over this extremely special and rare offering due to their preconceived notions of the potential for these Indian malts to deliver the goods, and they’d be doing themselves a grave disservice. We don’t believe there will be a more delicious sherried single cask available this year from any producer in ANY country.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2021

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been asking for single barrels from Amrut. It must have been at least a decade of begging and pleading with the importer to try to get it done. Ultimately, it was well worth the wait because the two casks that they ended up bottling are simply legendary. This gorgeous ex-Oloroso butt is easily the best Indian malt I’ve ever had and one of the most delicious malts of any kind I’ve had in at least the last year. There’s not much more I can say other than it’s time for anyone on the fence to come on down and get on board. Let’s taste! Color is a fabulous auburn. The nose starts out with powerful, old-school sherry character but doesn’t forget the malt behind the wine. Christmas cake, roasted chestnuts, new full-grain leather, dried plums, mango, gingerbread, and molasses cookies, an earthy chocolate maltiness to keep it tied up nicely. It’s not as aggressive as the port pipe or the Solist sherry and would much more readily be mistaken for an old-school Highland distillery than a modern tropical whisky. On the palate, it’s absolutely thick as oil and any perceived heat from the 120 proof is covered by the sweet, nutty sherry. More leather and now burnt orange peel, the old-schoolness of it is really the main attraction. Unctuous and long on the finish with a building exotic spice, some subtle black tea flavors, but far from feeling tannic or bitter at all. With a splash of water, both the tropical fruit and the spice are heightened, leaving some of the nutty savoriness behind on the nose, but not so much on the palate. Still ultra-rich and velvety, it has this wonderful duality of being both balanced and quite powerfully flavored. Simply one of my favorite whiskies in the shop right now and maybe ever. A true gem.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2021

Golden apples and raisins start things off on the nose. This beautiful, sherried Indian single malt packs a wallop of honey-roasted barley up front as well. The mid-palate is rich and supple, providing copious notes of maple syrup, baklava, and treacle. Roasted almonds and candied granola abound. The finish is big (the whisky is 60% ABV) but not overly hot. It lingers with a gentle sweetness and definitely encourages another sip. It’s a hell of a whisky from Amrut. If you haven’t taken note of this excellent single malt producer, now is the time. This is the bottle.

Looking to treat yourself or someone else to something special this month? Here are the ten whiskies we’re loving right now, specially selected by our co-founder Sukhinder Singh and buying director Dawn Davies MW.

This month’s favourites showcase several award-winning single malts from classic distilleries, plus a small-batch bourbon we’re crazy about. Take your pick from a rich and fruity 18-year-old Talisker, a traditional Campbelltown gem from Glen Scotia, a long-aged sherried Speyside from Glenfarclas, a Dalmore Port Wood gift set with two tumblers – and more.

EXPLORE TOP 10 WHISKIES

BRUICHLADDICH UNVEILS SCOTLAND’S FIRST BIODYNAMIC WHISKY

Distilled in 2011 and matured for 10 years in first fill ex-bourbon cask, this pioneering spirit is the latest expression to push the boundaries of sustainable whisky

November 16, 2021 –The team at Bruichladdich Distillery pride themselves on their barley obsession and have done so since the distillery doors reopened in 2001. Inspired by the world of wine and the belief that terroir can exist in whisky, that obsession has led to the release of some of Scotland’s most innovative malts.

Today, the latest chapter in the Hebridean distillery’s story is released and aptly named The Biodynamic Project. The first-ever biodynamic Scotch whisky to be released, this unpeated spirit was distilled in 2011 from a single farm and matured for a decade on the island of Islay. This expression has been bottled straight from the sample room of head distiller, Adam Hannett, under the Bruichladdich Distillery ‘Projects’ moniker.

This biodynamic barley has been grown outside of Scotland, at Yatesbury House Farm, near Wiltshire in England, which is uniquefor the distillery. All Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore single malts are distilled with 100% Scottish barley, so this biodynamic is the exception to their rule.1

Like organic farming, biodynamic methods don’t use chemical pesticides or chemical fertilisers. The method also enlivens the soil through biodynamic preparations and strengthens plants to guard against disease. Many wine growers in France apply biodynamic principles to nurture the soil in the belief that they improve the quality of the raw ingredient, resulting in a superior flavour.

Not only is this whisky exceptional to drink, a recent carbon audit completed at Yatesbury House Farm by farmer Dr Richard Gantlett found that 10x more carbon was sequestered there than was emitted. Supporting crops from this carbon positive farm is proof that the whisky industry can work directly with growers to put the planet at the heart of making exceptional food and drink. It is a fundamental first step towards supporting more regenerative agricultural systems and playing a part in climate change solutions.

“When we started distilling our Organic, Islay-grown and Bere barley expressions, it was driven by the curiosity to seek new and diverse flavours in Scotch whisky”, explains Bruichladdich’s head distiller Adam Hannett. “We approached Richard and asked him to certify biodynamically with that same flavour mission in mind. Many years on, we are delighted to know the positive impact these grains have on the environment. They have been crucial to us further examining what crops we purchase and how they play a part in supporting regenerative agriculture.”“

The flavour of the biodynamic, from when it was first distilled through to maturation is superb. There is a wonderful elevation of the fruity character of Bruichladdich with the Biodynamic malt. Apple and pear notes on the spirit are intensified and with a little water the floral notes burst through, with lots of lilac, honeysuckle and rose. Texturally there is an extra depth which carries the flavours beautifully.”

Bruichladdich Distillery’s The Biodynamic Project will be available exclusively from www.bruichladdich.com.A total of 5,000 bottles will be released at an RSP of £100 from the 16thNovember 2021. As with all of the distillery’s single malts, it is bottled unchill-filtered and colouring free inside the distillery gates on Islay. For further information or to request samples, please contact Praytell at bruichladdich@praytellagency.com.

Bruichladdich Distillery:

•Bruichladdich Distillery is located on the remote Scottish island of Islay and was built in 1881

•Bruichladdich Distillery crafts four different spirits:

•Bruichladdich, unpeated Islay single malt Scotch whiskyoPort Charlotte, heavily peated Islay single malt Scotch whisky (40PPM)

•Octomore, the world’s most heavily peated Scotch whisky series (80+PPM)

Bruichladdich Distillery matures and bottles all their single malts on the island of Islay. They are due to install on-site maltings in the near future, which will enable them to complete a proportion of their annual production on the island.

Bruichladdich Distillery is the largest private employer on the island of Islay

The Biodynamic Project:

The Biodynamic Project is the world’s first biodynamically grown Scotch whisky to be released

•The liquid profile is as follows:

•Barley Variety: Westminster

•Harvested in 2010 by Richard Gantlett at Yatesbury House Farm, Wiltshire

•Malted: By Bairds in Inversness at 0ppm, it is unpeated

•Distilled: Slowly using the original Victorian machined at Bruichladdich Distillery in 2011

•Matured: In first fill ex-bourbon casks for 10 aged yearsoBottled: On Islay using Islay spring water, it is unchill-filtered, colouring free and 50% abv.

•Bottled under the ‘Projects’moniker, The Biodynamic Project is the second small-batch experiment to be released straight from Adam’s sample room. The first was a recipe combining Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore single malts, named The Ternary Project.

•The Project releases are available via www.bruichladdich.comonly

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
Cask Strength 2021 Edition

A cask strength Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, this is definitely one that will set alight the tastebuds of any Bunna fan! This limited edition dram is inspired by the distillery’s famous Warehouse 9. Master Distiller Brendan McCarron decided to give people the opportunity to experience the 12 Year Old in its most natural form; bottled at 55.1% abv, the core characteristics of Bunnahabhain are beautifully enhanced. Wonderfully sherried, spicy, and unpeated, this is a testament to the distillery’s skilful balancing act in crafting iconic, great-tasting whisky.

£75.00
Buy Now

Glen Garioch
32 Year Old

Old & Rare Single Cask

Glen Garioch 1988 Single Cask

New 2021 bottling of the Highland distillery from Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare series. Glen Garioch 32 Year Old 1988 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill hogshead bottled February 2021 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare series. 85 bottles. Single cask refill hogshead yielding just 85 bottles. Expect dark fruits, toffee, honey and a satisfying oily finish. This deep amber whisky has a complex and inviting nose of coffee, dark chocolate, tobacco and nutmeg. Dark fruits on the palate, toffee, sweet oak and honey along with a wonderfully satisfying, oily mouthfeel. The finish takes an age to diminish, and leaves a faint and haunting impression of old, earth-floored dunnage warehouses.

Buy – Glen Garioch 32 Years – £349.20 / €344* / $390 / c$490

Various dates are given for the establishment of Glen Garrioch Distillery but it is likely to have been late on in 1785 making it one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. This distillery resides in Oldmeldrum in the Highland whisky region and currently operates with two stills. Its traditional floor maltings were in use up until 1993 thus its whisky produced up until that time was slightly smoky. The core distillery range includes the Glen Garioch 12 Year Old with independent bottles offer an interesting selection including Cadenhead’s and the Old Malt Cask.

2014 Bunnahabhain Staoisha Heavily Peated 6 Year Old “Signatory K&L Exclusive” Dechar/Rechar Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

Bunnahabhain sits on the Northern shores of Islay and has made a famously unpeated Islay malt in that remote location since 1881. Beginning in the 1990s Bunna began to experiment with varying levels of peat and has sold peated Scotch under a number of different names since then. In the last 5 years or so we’ve seen several casks on the independent market trading under the Staoisha name for Bunnahabhain’s heavily peated offering. These extraordinary casks taste absolutely fabulous when they are very young and they are just getting better and better with more age. Now 6.5 years of age this cask was distilled on 10/20/2014. Bottled 5/24/2021. Matured in a dechar/rechar hogshead. This unique process involves scraping a cask to expose new oak and then recharring the wood to seal it and caramelize the sugars. They drink a bit like first-fill bourbon casks due to the fresh char, but with the most robust tannins removed from the casks first use. The result is a best of both worlds scenario and it marries with heavy peat just perfectly. Cask No 10568. 59.4% ABV.

2010 Linkwood 11 Year Old “Signatory K&L Exclusive” Charred Wine Hogshead Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $89.99 View

Linkwood has been the blender’s greatest secret for decades. A little bit of Linkwood used correctly takes a fine blended Scotch and amps it up to a very good or great blended Scotch. It’s like salt to a chef for the whisky blender and it’s this unique characteristic that makes it so rare as a single malt – it’s too valuable for the blend. Fortunately for fans of great Single Malt, the independent bottling market has stepped in to fill this void. We’ve seen more and more casks come to market in the last 5-10 years, but most of those single casks don’t come in super active wood. This isn’t necessarily bad – you get a great look at the naked malt, which is incredible, but the barrels don’t always pop as much as they could if treated to great wood. Not so with this young Linkwood from Signatory. Aged 11 Years, this extraordinary Linkwood is a beautiful dark amber due to the charred wine hogshead it was aged in. Quite a strange vessel for malt aging, but it turns out, with this barrel of Linkwood at least, it WORKS. Distilled on 5/18/2010. Bottled 5/24/2021. 59.2%ABV.

2007 Glen Elgin 14 Year Old “Signatory K&L Exclusive” Hogshead Cask Strength Collection Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $89.99 View

While many distillery owners prefer shell-and-tube condensers because they are cheaper and easier to maintain, it is no secret that, for many great malts, a worm tub is critical to the final character. Glen Elgin is a classic worm tub distillery. Juicy fruit and palate weight are the major hallmarks of Glen Elgin, situated in Speyside’s small hamlet of Fogwatt. The distillery has very long fermentation times (ranging from 80 to 120 hours) and an unusually clear wort. Combine that with very slow distillations and you have a vibrant fruity malt. Condense that fruity malt in a slow, meandering worm tub, and you’ve got robust body. This somewhat paradoxical profile has lead Glen Elgin to be prized by blenders and have a cult following among single malt enthusiasts. Fortunately for K&L customers, Signatory has secured a choice cask for us. Aged 14 years, matured in hogshead. Distilled on 5/1/2007. Bottled 5/21/2021 53.2%ABV. Cask No 800253. It’s big and rich with bushels of stone fruit and chewy malt

Westward K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #277 Cask Strength Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey (750ml) $99.99 View

Westward has long been producing some of the finest American single malts available due to a few very intentional choices and Scottish-like climate. We’ve selected one of their oldest available casks and it’s a classic. Westward only uses Pacific Northwest grown barley and it’s all malted just 10 miles from the distillery at Great Western Maltings. This two-row barley is malted to spec—high color pale malt—which would be something akin to a medium or medium + coffee roast. This brings out an array of beautiful toasted flavors ranging from filberts, almonds, and coffee to chocolate nibs and cereals. Perhaps the biggest flavor differentiator is in the yeast choice. The vast majority of distillers use an highly efficient distiller’s yeast, not so here. Westward employs the Chico Strain ale yeast—the very same yeast that accounts for Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale’s famous flavor. Combine that with a low and slow 5-day ferment and the tropical fruit esters in the whiskey are off the charts. Sweet mash leads to a little extra variation from barrel to barrel making the selection that much more special. Our barrel was aged in brand new #2 char 100% American oak for over 5 years in Clackamas, OR. The predominantly cool and wet climate with a short hot summer isn’t all that different from Scotland allowing for that ester development combined with barrel extraction that makes great single malt so special. Distilled 4-21-16. Bottled 6-10-21.

1998 Inchgower 22 Year Old “Sovereign” K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $109.99 View

A Diageo blending workhorse, Inchgower is a principal component (along with Blair Athol) of the Bell’s blend which we sadly don’t see here in the United States. Due to a cloudy wort and a slightly unusual middle cut that runs from 70% all the way down to 55% in the spirits run, Inchgower tends towards the fuller spicier side of things and away from the high-toned fruits found early in the spirits run. Couple that with 22 years in a refill sherry butt and we’ve got a decadent spicy whisky on our hands with the mellowness of long aging. A wonderful combination and a screaming deal at just over a hundred bucks.

1994 Tomatin 25 Year Old “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $249.99 View

Tomatin is a fascinating distillery with a unique history and many incarnations, from starting as a bulk blender and supplier and eventually shifting to a steadfast focus on quality single malt production. From the early 1900s through the mid ’70s, Tomatin grew continuously. They added stills multiple times as demand for their product increased exponentially. By 1975, they were the largest single malt production facility in Scotland. Sadly due to market forces they never operated at their full capacity, and by the mid ’80s the massive bust in the market for Scotch was impossible to ignore. Tomatin was liquidated and became the first of many Scottish distilleries to be purchased by Japanese companies. Today owned by the company known as Takara Shuzo, Tomatin has many bottlings on the market, but it is the choicest single casks that command the most attention. Here we have an incredible single cask of sherry-finished Tomatin 25 Year Old at a natural strength of 49.3% ABV. Expect a great value single malt with tropical and stone fruits in abundance, melded with sherry spice and orange peel dipped in chocolate.

PERSONALISE YOUR BOTTLE (personalised label)
£52.50
43% ABV

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PERSONALISE YOUR BOTTLE (engraved decanter)
£72.00
43% ABV

SHOP NOW