We’re pleased to be part of the new Hebridean Whisky Trail!

To celebrate, the first Hebridean Whisky Festival is taking place, a week-long event celebrating the single malt Scotch whisky distilleries along the trail.

Join us on Monday, 29th August for our dedicated Isle of Harris Distillery day!

There are other events at Jura, Torabhaig, Raasay, and Talisker distilleries and the week will culminate on Saturday, 3rd September 2022 with all day activities at the Sligachan Hotel on the Isle of Skye.

Hope to see you along the way!

VISIT THE HEBRIDEAN WHISKY TRAIL WEBSITE

IMPORTANT SPRINGBANK UPDATE

The queue outside the shop is already too long for the stock that we have, we would ask that you do not travel to the shop now looking for the release of the two Springbank bottles. We have now drawn the ballot for the two releases. IF you have not yet heard from us about the ballot, I am afraid that you will not have won.

Over 50% Off a Collector’s Dream Single Cask, For a Limited Time
Kavalan “Solist” Amontillado Sherry Cask Strength 56.3% ABV Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)
(Previously $600) ($249.99)

“I hope these jaw-dropping releases become available to us regularly at this pricing. That unfortunately is a pipe dream, so we’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

At the cornerstone of this coveted whiskey line, the sherry-aged casks present the quintessential Kavalan poise and grace that has won this iconic distillery its countless accolades and awards over the years, including the 2021 Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as a near-maniacal following among the most committed collectors. One of two spectacular amontillado-aged single casks recently sourced at utterly mind-boggling pricing, this 56.3% ABV barrel is described by our own David Othenin-Girard as “wildly complex” with an approachability that lends itself to a very broad audience of aficionados. The overtly opulent profile “more than delivers the goods in way that distinguishes it from the other two casks,” as David notes. Collectible whiskies like this very rarely come up at such discounted pricing, so any savvy collector looking to maximize their purchasing power should beat a quick path and secure their bottles today.

Kavalan “Solist” Amontillado Sherry Cask Strength 56.3% ABV Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) (Previously $600) ($249.99)

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: August 17, 2022

It’s pretty exciting tasting these Kavalans and doubly so getting to compare similar casks. The two amontillados we have were both distilled in 2010 and bottled at around eight years old in April of 2008. This barrel is slightly lower proof, and the character is distinct from its sister cask. The same burnished color, though. The nose is a big fruit bomb with lots of stewed stone fruit and raisined characteristics—dried plum, baked peaches, molasses syrup, confectionary candies, almond cookies, and sweet tea. On first glance, this barrel is closest to the oloroso stuff but with something extra—a sur-age character that’s unique to amontillado. Big fruity nose translates to a much less spicy palate, with exceptional sweetness and a seriously creamy character. This is likely the most approachable of three Kavalans but by no means a slouch. It’s wildly complex even without the extra savory character of the higher-proof cask. Tough call on which is better, but this is the one I’d recommend if Kavalan has ever felt a little over the top on the tannins for you, as it’s the softest expression of the three barrels we have. It more than delivers the goods in way that distinguishes it from the other two casks.

Special offer

WHISKY OF THE MONTH

Save £6 on our Whisky of the Month, the Single Barrel Select from Jack Daniel’s with a free nosing glass! This bottle can also be engraved to make a special gift for a JD enthusiast. Bottled at 90 proof and only made with specially selected and expressive casks of Jack Daniel’s, the Single Barrel Select turns up the dial on the flavours of the Old No.7.

 SHOP NOW 

Dùthchas is a new documentary screening Scotland-wide as part of the 75th Edinburgh International Film Festival.

For the people of Berneray, an island in the Sound of Harris, life changed dramatically in the latter part of the last century. Traditional ways of life eroded, and many families were forced to move away.

Drawing on rare 8mm colour film of Berneray, directors Andy MacKinnon and Kirsty MacDonald offer a bridge between the contemporary citizens and their not-so-distant past.

The result is a film of great emotion that speaks to the importance of place and the resilience of culture through language, song and memories.

“Tha e mar gun robh thu ann fiùs mun do rugadh thu”
“It’s as though you were here, before you were even born”

LEARN MORE

Benrinnes 1978, Private Collection Cask #1636

Encapsulating the very essence of their philosophy, Private Collection comprises a truly exceptional and unique collection of greatly-aged single malts from little-known, and closed distilleries in Scotland.

This release comes from Benrinnes Distillery

Distilled: 27th March 1978
Bottled: 30th December 2021
Cask Type: Refill American Hogshead
Cask No: 1636
Outturn: 158 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Bright salted lemon flavours are followed by honeysuckle and pineapple. Dried apricots come to the fore alongside brown sugar.

Taste: Sweet citrus fruits and watermelon are balanced by spicy peppercorns. Marzipan and subtle charred oak develops alongside a hint of dried tobacco.

Finish: A medium to long finish with roasted nuts.

£2,100.00

When it comes to the colours of whisky-making there’s nothing quite like the warmth and glow of copper. We have two whisky stills in our Spirit Hall, one 5000 litre spirit still called ‘Eva’, and her neighbouring 7000 litre wash still.

Together, these “dancing stills” intertwine to create the spirit we commit to oaks casks and send to our warehouse in Ardhasaig to undergo maturation. Tonight, they lie silent but rest assured they’ll soon come to life once more…

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WHISKY

Staff Choice 004 – Keiran

This weeks staff pick comes from Keiran. Keiran has been working in our whisky shop for the last couple of years. He can usually be found discussing whisky options with customers in the shop or picking and packing all of your orders to ensure they get out to you as quickly as possible. For this weeks pick, he has chosen GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 10, A fantastic sherried whisky with notes of fruitcake and sultanas.

Check out Keirans Pick Here >

Only £74.90

The Loch Fyne Fynest
Fettercairn 24 Year Old

Our Fynest Fettercairn 24 Year Old is matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being re-racked to a first fill Sauternes cask. What you get is a truly unique, fabulously sweet, and rich wee dram! The Loch Fyne Fynest Fettercairn 24 Year Old matured until February 2020 in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being re-racked to a first fill Sauternes cask. What you get is a truly unique, fabulously sweet, and rich wee dram. This limited release is free from chill filtration and at its natural colour, bottled at a powerful cask strength of 53.6% abv.

£185.00
BUY NOW

HAMISH SAYS

Johnnie Walker: A global giant with a local voice

Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand.¹ Following the celebration of the brand’s 200th year in 2020, this year we’ve taken the first bold steps into a new chapter of Johnnie Walker’s remarkable journey. We also welcomed over 235,000 visitors to Johnnie Walker Princes Street,² our newly opened visitor experience in Edinburgh, and unveiled a new era of the brand’s iconic ‘Keep Walking’ story.

During the pandemic, people around the world experienced dramatic shifts in their everyday lives. At Johnnie Walker, these changes, combined with our consumer insight, created an opportunity to instil the iconic ‘Keep Walking’ line with contemporary meaning, continuing to build this global giant through new, local connections. Hot on the heels of unveiling a bold new look for Johnnie Walker, we launched our new ‘Keep Walking’ campaign in October 2021. For more than 20 years, Johnnie Walker has inspired people with these two simple words, and this next chapter will continue to build cultural relevance for the brand among the next generation of whisky drinkers.

Our campaign burst onto screens, into venues, social feeds and advertising spaces in over 50 countries. Through partnerships with local changemakers, including CL, the South Korean rapper; Burna Boy, the Nigerian singer, songwriter and performance artist; and DJ Alok, the Brazilian DJ and record producer, we reconnected people with the socialising spaces they had missed for so long. We broke away from more conventional communications, telling the story of African creativity in an award-winning documentary, ‘The Ones Who Keep Walking’, which was made with the Forbes 30-under-30 director, Amarachi Nwosu. We shared inspiring quotes on progress from famous personalities, such as Grace Jones, Mark Twain and Mae West, across city skylines and cultural hot spots. And our television and cinema advertisement ‘Anthem’ brought Johnnie Walker’s charismatic spirit and the power of ‘Keep Walking’ to life with energy and optimism.

Johnnie Walker organic net sales grew 34% this year, surpassing 21 million nine-litre cases. And the ‘Keep Walking’ campaign’s success speaks for itself. We’re proud that, judged against 13,000 other advertisements, ‘Keep Walking’ won three top 10 places in Kantar’s Creative Effectiveness Awards 2022.