This is not just a blog, it is a lifestyle!  Oban & Mull.

By Paul McLean of MCLEANSCOTLAND

Being hatched just along the road fae Oban in Connel, I have a great understanding of the west coast, especially Oban and Mull. Born Connel, babynapped at an early age, I have always had a pull to drag me home. This trip was just one of many.

Setting out from Perth where I now hang out, it is a very scenic two hour or so drive, through wonderful glens, passing lochs, coast and the occasional pub (he laughs), it is very hard not to stop every half hour or so, but – I venture on, all for the sake of tourism you understand. Passing through Crieff, I know of a very good grocer, who also sells cheeses and a bloomin grand selection of whiskies. From here passing by Glenturret Distillery – no calling in today folks, en route to a wee stop for a butty or burger in one of my favourites stops. He also sells banjo burgers (burger with a fried egg, when you bite it, it runs doon your shirt and your hand immediately does the banjo thing!) and a cuppa tea. Rested, fed and watered on I go, doon the glens to my next stop, The Green Welly Shop.  Gifts, food, drinks etc etc and, a good whisky shop with samples given oot, not me, am still driving. But, I do leave with a bottle of Tamdhu 10 year old single malt, a lovely dram and one you should try if not had before, it excells! Wonderful scenery as I turn left at the Glencoe fork in the road, along the Beatles road – it’s long and winding. This takes me to Connel, a stop here at the Falls of Laura, the Oyster Bar, before a few more miles to Oban. Park up and donder aboot on foot. There are two good whisky shops here and aye, both are well known to me and me to them, plus of course the Oban Distillery. A few pubs I regularly haunt – a dram or two in The Tartan Bar, a pint and a dram in Auley’s; even had Charlies home dram here – a JW Black, no bad, check into my accoms and set out for food, usually seafood, one or three places I know well. A good night is assured.

Next morning after breakfast I catch to ferry to Mull – the Isle of. A 45 minute sail, passing my castle; Duart and landing at Craignure. From here along the road towards Tobermory.

I have a date here with Macgochans pub, owned by a friend, great plates of food and a serious collection of whiskies. Of course as you would expect, he has a selection of Tob drams, many bottles of Tobermory and a few Ledaig peaty drams, standing at the bar you get this urge to try em all, but alas, this Budda shaped body cannee take em all, so lets have a Masala finish Tob, heaven in a glass, sorry angels, beat you to it this time – sorry dad. Neil usually has live music on and a special darts board, it calculates the score for you! Great for numpty’s like me. A wander over to the Distillery (two minutes) and chat with the staff, what’s new? Normally I cannee come away without a bottle! Today was no different; Ledaig 18  A wonderfully smoky Single Malt sweet and floral aromas with a richness and warmth of sea salt and smoke, it cuddles me so I had to have it. Un-chillfiltered @ 46.3% ABV.  The one I wanted but couldnee afford was the Tobermory 42yo. This rare, and heavily sherried dark chocolate and coffee liqueur flavours, with a spicy, salty tail astounds the pallet. Distilled in the 1970s, when the distillery’s 41 year closure had finally come to an end, this beautiful 42 Year Old Tobermory Single Malt is the oldest and rarest Tobermory ever released with only 1 cask bottled only 1 cask – oh please someone give me this! Some shopping, in my favourite shop, you can buy a bottle of whisky, a banjo, a book, maps, toys, hammers, nails etc etc even a dinosaur bone! Drinkies then bed. Day three, a drive around the island starting with Calgary, fab driving on wee roads/tracks. A good day out on Mull, a few stops for photos, well many actually, then back to Tobermory for another night, tonight into CafeFish for ma tea, fabulous seafood. That was a good day, rounded off by drinkies in the Mishnish. Day four, away home, same road but going the other way – as you do, still great scenery, home, bags in, cuppa tea, some work then to Christies pub. Now that is what I call a grand weekend!

PAUL  www.mcleanscotland.com

The Last of The GlenDronach Batch 16

Earlier this year, the 16th installment of The GlenDronach Single Cask Batch release arrived at Loch Fyne, but most of the bottles were snapped up in the blink of an eye! We’ve been able to get a hold of a few more bottles for you, so make sure you act fast to smuggle one of these beauties away for yourself.

Next day delivery available on UK orders
We ship all over the world!

La Vie en Whisky:
The Whisky Shop Paris

Our French boutique is now two years old, and in its short life it has already seen a staggering collection of some incredible and rare whiskies pass through its doors. Just a stone’s throw from some of Paris’ most iconic sights, our shop in Place de la Madeleine is home to limited editions from The Macallan, Highland Park, Springbank and more, many of which aren’t available in our UK shops.

That’s not to say you can’t get them for your own collection! With international shipping there’s no need for a Eurostar ticket, in fact you don’t even have to speak French, just click ‘Translate this page’ in your browser.

Macallan Edition No.2

The second in an annual series of limited editions, this Speyside single malt is the fruit of a creative partnership between Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker at The Macallan, and the Roca brothers of restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca, in Catalonia.

The nose has layers of vanilla, tropical fruit and subtle green wood with treacle, ginger toffee apples and rich fruit. The palate brings cracked black pepper, chocolate, nuts, cloves, oak, brown sugar, liquorice and brandy snaps, before a full, slow and warming finish.

€125 Buy Now

KILCHOMAN PORT CASK 2018 RELEASE, 50.0%

£83.95

Limited release from Kilchoman aged in Port Cask. Expect full bodied red fruit notes paired with gentle peat reak.

Buy Kilchoman Port Cask Now

KILCHOMAN, RED WINE CASK, 2017, 50%

£79.95

Aged in Portugese Red Wine Casks, this limited release. Think buttery and fruity with a bitter chocolate finish.

£69.95

Sweet peat. This limited release from Kilchoman is a treat each year. The Loch Gorm is aged exclusively in Sherry casks.

Buy Kilchoman Loch Gorm Now

TWB Exclusives from Dumbarton & Invergordon

TWB Exclusive 40 & 30 Year Old Single Grains

Invergordon 40 Year Old 1978 Single Cask – £191.22
Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1988 Single Cask – £119.08

We’ve line up two new exclusive single grain whiskies for April, both ideal for those special birthdays, anniversaries or any special occasion really!

Are you a whisky collector or just enjoy tasting different whiskies and expanding your knowledge? Then you’re in the right place!

Did you know The Whisky Shop has its own Whisky Club, where thousands of members take advantage of some incredible benefits, including Whisky Wednesday flash sales.

For just £20 per year, you will gain access to our weekly flash sales, with discounts of up to 60% on some collectable bottles, limited editions and our special selection of customer favourites. But that’s not all – there’s also monthly 10% discounts, free copies of Whiskeria magazine, members-only auctions and more!

How does Whisky Wednesday work?

5 products, 5 great discounts
24 hours only or while stocks last
1 bottle per item per customer
Exclusively for W Club members
Free Click & Collect available

Join The W Club today and start enjoying amazing whisky savings from tomorrow!

If you have any questions about Whisky Wednesdays or The W Club membership, please reply to this email and our team will be able to help you.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L8040K1007 Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $44.99 View

Douglas Laing’s Big Peat “Christmas” Limited Edition Cask Strength Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $80) The exceptional Big Peat Christmas 2017 is arriving with perfect timing to avoid any holiday gifting or sharing with unappreciative relatives. The 2017 Christmas Edition of Big Peat is the probably the best received of these always-beloved annual releases. This is a blend of seven Islay single malts including the rare closed Port Ellen distillery. Douglas Laing has confirmed Bowmore, Caol Ila and Ardbeg, so that leaves Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Bunnahabhain for us to speculate about. High quality blended malt bottled at full strength from these rare special distilleries, we’d expect a hefty price tag. Since we have the California exclusive, we can offer you this amazing whisky for the best price anywhere in the world. Enjoy it now or stock up for the 2018 holidays. $49.99 View

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old Faultline Refill Bourbon Hogshead Cask Strength Single Cask Single Malt Whisky (750ml) This incredible collaboration between Alexander Murray and K&L is part of the first batch of Faultline casks we’ve had in years. There are only a couple of factors that qualify a cask for inclusion in this special program. The casks must be absolutely exceptional and they must represent the best possible value for our customers. As the whisky boom has continued to explode across the world, fewer sources are available and scarcity means higher prices. The great casks we find are less likely to be made available to us under our own brand as our suppliers want credit for great casks under their own labels. That’s why this find is so incredible. Ben Nevis is an unbelievably good distillery that is unfortunately NOT regularly available in the US. Located on the western coast of Scotland in the town of Fort Williams, they’re owners are Japanese, which means that’s where the whisky goes. This gorgeous old hogshead filled once previously was fashioned from American oak and shows all the great texture and depth we’d expect from Ben Nevis, although with none of the saltpeter or sulfur that is sometimes present in their heady distillate. Pungent and almost extreme, the nose is a concentrated particle beam of fruit and malt flavor. This cask is all about freshness, maturity and balance. While it may not be as showy as the others on paper, the absolute purity of the aromatics and the unrelenting energy of this malt will leave a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to procure one. $89.99 View

Kilchoman Sanaig and Port Askaig 8yr Have Each Won 95 Points!

Both of these core expressions exemplify what is best about Islay whiskies.  

KILCHOMAN SANAIG

Sanaig has a predominantly sherry cask influence owing to the significant time spent in oloroso sherry Hogsheads. These aged oloroso casks contribute a drastically transformed depth of colour.

PORT ASKAIG – 8 year

Yielding an eight year natural color and being non-chill filtered, this award-winning small-batch production expression daily drinker was created by Islay whisky fans for Islay whisky drinkers.  The elegant, soft, sweet, classy, minerally, medium-peated style is perfect for novices to discover Islay and connoisseurs to enjoy as their regular dram.

Thanks again for being part of our family and enjoying these fine whiskies with us!

We’ll be in touch about other exciting news as the year drinks on …

Please feel free to reach out for more details on the bottlings: office@impexbev.com

Glenglassaugh 1986 30 Year Old Batch 3

The signature expression within the batch 3 Glenglassaugh limited edition series.Part of the third batch of Rare Cask Releases from Glenglassaugh, this Highland single malt was distilled on 19th February 1986 and aged in a single Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, cask #1393, for three decades before bottling in November 2016 at a cask strength of 42.6% abv. Limited to just 425 bottles.

The nose has dark chocolate notes with red grape and blackcurrant, black pepper and a floral oak spice. On the palate there’s fresh plum syrup, heather honey, gentle chocolate notes and candied ginger, with soft barley sugar.

£310 Buy Now