The Bunnahabhain distillery lies on the peaceful, sheltered north-eastern coast of Islay. Built in 1881 its name comes from the Gaelic, Bunnahabhain (Bu-na-ha-venn), meaning ‘mouth of the river’, a reference to the Margadale, the river from whose clear spring waters the whisky is distilled.
Must-savour smoke
Laphroaig 10 Year Old is September’s top-selling bottle. Stock up for essential autumn sipping.
The seasons are certainly changing. Here in the UK it’s chilly, damp, and our drinking tastes have shifted accordingly. So far in September, our bottle sales have been dominated by smoky classics. Just what we all fancy as the evenings draw in.
The dram of the moment? The simply iconic Laphroaig 10 Year Old. The Islay single malt brings together seaweed and sweetness, all wrapped up in that profoundly evocative peat smoke. It’s a whisky for the ages, but it tastes just right this September. Plus, we’ve taken 12% off!
Other top sellers this month? Aberfeldy 12 Year Old with its harvest-season hedgerow fruits, and the softly smoky Highland Park Cask Strength. Both are delicious all year round, but they just hit different in the autumn months.
Teaninich 10 Years Old Warehouse Reserve
This single malt was distilled in 2013 at Teaninich Distillery, located in the Highland whisky region. It was aged for 10 years in a single Refill Bourbon Hogshead and finished in a 1st fill American Oak Oloroso Sherry Hogshead for 1 year 9 months. Bottled at natural cask strength of 56.8% ABV. Bottled by Woodrow’s of Edinburgh for their Warehouse Reserve collection without chill-filtration or artificial colouring. Only 289 Bottles have been produced.
TASTING NOTES:
NOSE: Apple, tart red berries, golden syrup with a biblichor presence.
PALATE: Full-bodied with fresh hay, chamomile, gelatin sweets, orange peel and a hint of leather.
FINISH: Bitter-sweet with cloves and cocoa.
£65.00
Laphroaig 34 Year Old Ian Hunter Book V 45.5% 70cl
This 34-year-old ex-bourbon barrel matured single malt is the fifth and final release in Laphroaig’s series of rare and collectable aged whiskies to celebrate the story of Ian Hunter who transformed the Laphroaig make whisky over many years. The whisky is matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and European oak Pedro Ximenez casks.
Laphroaig’s tasting note:
Nose: lightly peaty with notes of iodine and burnt wood. Floral green malt, sweet candyfloss and vanilla fudge, and subtle blueberry and raspberry accents.
Palate: sweet and spicy, with hints of classic Laphroaig peat and cold barbecue ash. Salted caramel and butterscotch, roast chestnut, a hint of peach, dried flowers and white pepper.
Finish: peaty and malty, with a lingering sweetness
Deanston Organic American Oak is a 2002 vintage, 20 year old single malt, from the Scottish Highlands. New make spirit was fully matured in Organic American oak casks. Bottling at cask strength intensifies the core characteristics of this dram; matured in organic American oak casks that deliver a subtly waxy, citrus character with notes of honey spice, stone fruits, toasted oak and freshly cut grass.
Nose: Sweet notes of vanilla and caramel are intertwined with cedar, wood spice and hints of ripe fruits.
Palate: Rich, yet dry on the palate. Honey spice, stone fruits, toasted oak and a gentle note of freshly cut grass.
Finish: Lingering finish of desiccated coconut and a touch of cocoa.
FOR ONE WEEK ONLY
SAVE £100 ON THESE ICONIC WHISKIES
While Stocks last, we’re offering £100 off the retail prices of these six whiskies from the world’s great distilleries, including Macallan, Talisker and Chichibu.
Nikka Days
Gold — International Spirits Challenge 2020
A subtle blend of grain and malt whiskies, slightly peated. Creamy, fruity and smooth, this whisky will please amateurs and connoisseurs alike with its floral and fruity notes. A whisky with a smooth and fruity profile, to enjoy neat or in a cocktail.
Expect notes of white flowers, orange blossoms and pear on the nose, leading to a complex palate of malt, toffee, nuts, vanilla and a hint of peat. The finish is fruity, malty and lingering, with a distinctive apricot note.
WAS £51.00
NOW £39.00
Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯
This single malt from Glenallachie Distillery was distilled in May 2008 and bottles in June 2024. Matured in an ex-Islay Hogshead for 16 years, before being bottled at natural cask strength of 54.2% ABV.
TASTING NOTES:
Price
Complex, elegant, and full of character, our inaugural expression is a delicious dram which unfolds in your glass, revealing itself wonderfully over time, just like the island itself. From the beginning of our Harris whisky-making story, we set out to capture the very best of our island home in our first historic release. This is why every drop of The Hearach single malt whisky is distilled, matured, blended, married, and bottled here in the Isle of Harris and nowhere else. Already winning praise and gathering gold awards from international whisky judges and juries, The Hearach is made for enjoying, so let’s drink to that…
Something new is coming on September 24th 2024… Look out for more on our social media channels or keep an eye on your inbox over the coming days and weeks.
Peat cutting is an age-old island tradition, with small sections of the moor allocated with a dedicated peat bank for each local household. The process begins with removing the top layer of the marsh, revealing the soft peat underneath, ready for cutting.
Using a long-handled tool known in Gaelic as a “tairsgear” or “Iarunn mònadh”, the peat is then expertly sliced into pieces and laid out to dry over the summer months. Once dried on both sides, family and friends come together to transport the peat back home where it will be carefully stacked into a structure known in Gaelic as a “cruach” – often a true work of art.
From start to finish it’s hard work for those who part take in this age-old tradition but the effort not only connects to our history and heritage, but also ensures a welcome warmth in our homes throughout the winter.
The Hearach Single Malt Whisky Batch No. 14 tasting notes…
“There’s a familiar sweetness on the nose, it reminds me of my Granny in Scalpay’s sweetie tin, with aromas of pear drops and caramel. I smell the sea, like the mist from waves splashing at Luskentyre and Horgabost machair, with honey and floral notes too. I taste a slight spicy, woodiness, my Dad’s cigars, and spiced cinnamon. There’s a light peatiness, like walking through Scalpay villages in Autumn. A drop of water brings out the smoke, reminding me of camping trips with friends in Northton, and more sweetness, like honeycomb and vanilla ice cream. The finish is punchy, with spice and hazelnuts. It’s a lovely dram.”
– DONALD MACRAE, ISLE OF SCALPAY
70CL | 46.3%
£39.75
WAS £48.25
SAVE £8.50
A lovely peated whisky in Bunnahabhain’s core range, this release was matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, resulting in a mix of smoke and sweet sherry fruit. The first peated whisky in Bunnahabhain’s core range. Like the limited edition Toiteach that came before it, Toiteach A Dha (which means ‘smoky two’ in Scots Gaelic) is a smoky single malt with a sherry twist. Matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, with a higher sherry influence than Toiteach, this is a delicate mix of smoke and sweet sherry fruit.
