GIVE THANKS WITH THE MOST AWARDED AMERICAN SINGLE MALT
There’s no better way to give thanks than over a glass of whisky. For this holiday season only, you can share all four of our most awarded American Single Malt expressions with the Courage & Conviction Signature Malt gift pack. Stock up now!
Spent twelve years maturing in a sherry cask before just 587 bottles were filled at 57% abv
An impressive addition any whisky lover’s collection. This expression was distilled on 25th June 2010 and spent twelve years maturing in a sherry cask before just 587 bottles were filled at 57% abv on 9th August 2022. This sumptuous single malt is bursting with flavours of baking spices and dried fruit. It is free from chill filtration and artificial colouring.
Mortlach 2002 19 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice
From the world-acclaimed Connoisseurs Choice range by G&M is this single cask Mortlach exclusively bottled just for us!
Released by renowned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Connoisseurs Choice series, this single malt Scotch whisky has been bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop. The expression was originally distilled in 2002 at Mortlach distillery in Speyside. After spending 19 years in a refill bourbon barrel, this rare dram was bottled in May 2022 at 56% abv.
On the nose, there is spiced apple, fragrant vanilla, and dark honey. The palate is full of watermelon, citrus zest, and butterscotch before leading into the medium finish full of tropical fruit and oak.
Dalmore 2008 13 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice
A fruity dram with soft texture and a sweet taste overall, and a surprisingly spicy savoury finish
From the world-acclaimed Connoisseurs Choice range comes this Dalmore single malt whisky, independently bottled by Gordon & MacPhail exclusively for The Whisky Shop. Distilled in 2008, this expression has spent 13 years in a refill bourbon barrel before being bottled in May 2022 at 57.2% abv without chill filtration or added colouring. Highly limited, just 256 bottles have been produced.
“A mellow nosefeel, with light prickle. The initial impression is fruity – fresh apple, pear in syrup, fruit salad, a suggestion of raspberry jam – beneath this is a whisper of shortcrust pastry. A soft texture and a sweet taste overall, with a surprisingly spicy savoury finish. Little change with a splash of water, the finish now slightly tart.” – Whiskeria, Summer 2022
It’s been a few months since we last spoke and lots has been going on – not least the release of the Casks Of Lindores Oloroso Sherry Butt. We disgorged eighteen first-fill sherry butts, then diluted to our bottling strength of 49.4%. It’s a beautiful dram that rounds off the trilogy of the three casks we use at Lindores; if you haven’t yet had a chance to try it I strongly recommend you do.
October in the distillery is a great month and although I tempt fate, it’s possibly the easiest month to make spirit. The water temp and ambient temp are perfect and the process just hums.
Lorena , our blender, has been busy. Her nose and taste are used to give appraisal of private casks, a service that is well received. At the moment she is also evaluating where our core product MCDXCIV is on its journey of maturity. It’s amazing to observe a cask as it gains maturation in its early years – and then how big the subsequent changes. From 3yo to a 4yo is a huge jump. We know that the STR gives early maturation, so we have to make sure that our blend ratio of the three casks is correct to keep our chosen balance, so that a single type of cask does not become too dominant. Everything is calibrated against the highly discriminating measure of Lorena’s nose!
Last but not least in the team Colin and Charles strive to keep the quality of the spirit at the high standard we expect, whilst ensuring the yields of spirit are where we set our targets. All of that against the fact that everything is getting more expensive; it’s the old adage of getting balance between quality / quantity / cost. All three are directly linked, but the ethos at Lindores is that the quality of the spirit MUST always remain. Drew made this promise a few years ago and it’s a promise we will always want to keep.
Next month we should be able to tell you about our next special run of malt; and also some other things we are looking at to keep us progressive while still ensuring that the past informs the future. Until then stay safe, stay well!
Slà inte
Gary Haggart
Distillery Manager
Partnered Promotion
Focus On: Bunnahabhain
Discover the joy of unpeated, sherry-cask Islay whisky this Christmas
The most northerly and arguably the most remote distillery on Islay, follow a snaking road for three miles and, after tracking across moorland and cutting down cliffs, you’ll reach Bunnahabhain Distillery. It’s a journey that’s well worth it. Visitors to the Islay producer don’t just drink in the breathtaking views across the Sound of Jura to the mountains beyond — they’re poised to discover a single malt maker steeped in tradition, yet underpinned by a very modern dedication to sustainability.
Bunnahabhain’s spectacular waterfront location, with its new Biomass Energy Centre sitting on the hillside behind the distillery buildings.
Committed to creating a fruity, unpeated whisky with big flavours enhanced by sherry cask maturation, master distiller Brendan McCarron, master blender Julieann Fernandez and the Bunnahabhain team nurture the distillery’s spirit from grain to glass. Custodians of a whisky known as a special favourite of whisky makers and connoisseurs alike, the team’s commitment to excellence is matched by a razor-sharp focus on consistency. The result is a spectacular range of single malt Scotch whiskies primed for festive sipping and gift-giving.
Bunnahabhain master blender Julieann Fernandez
Take Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old, for example. First blended and released over 40 years ago, it’s a classic expression that’s stood the test of time. Bottled at 46.3% ABV, non-chill filtered for rich, bold depth of flavour and a creamy mouthfeel, and with only its natural, cask-derived colour, Bunnahabhain’s bold, unpeated distillery character is paired with a high proportion of sherry casks to create a luxurious dram bursting with dried fruits and opulent nuttiness. It’s a treat when sipped neat or enjoyed in a cocktail, such as an Old Fashioned.
Inside the traditional dunnage warehousing at Bunnahabhain
Discover more about this remarkable distillery, the people who make it and Bunnahabhain’s flagship dram by clicking the link below, or purchase a bottle for yourself here.
The Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old
Tasting Notes by Christopher Coates,
Whisky Magazine Editor-at-Large
Bunnahabhain
12 Years Old
Distell International
ABV: 46.3%
Style: Single malt
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Price per 70cl bottle: £40
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: Good retailers and at Bunnahabhain.com
Nose: Poached pears, baked green apples and rich heather honey. Juicy raisins and sultanas with prunes in syrup and liquorice. Dark chocolate with candied ginger, cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg and aromatic cedar wood. Zesty orange and lemon peels, with sticky toffee, too.
Palate: Mouthcoating and full-bodied, with more baked pear and apple notes, with a dusting of muscovado sugar. Sweet vanilla and chewy caramels are balanced by distinctive citrus, especially Jaffa orange, and fat Medjool dates stuffed with almond butter.
Finish: Milk chocolate and almond play out with toffee and orchard fruits for a long finish.
Comments: Big flavours will keep whisky lovers coming back for more.
Kentucky Owl Batch #12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $349.99 View
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
Last chance to shop October Malts of The Month!
Specially curated by our team, showcasing autumnal flavours. Perfect for sipping slowly, cosied up by the fire.
Use code MOMOCT at the checkout to get £5/€5 off your order. Offer ends Monday 31st of October at midnight. Applies to online orders only.
Use the links below to access the shop relevant to you.
UK OCTOBER MALT OF THE MONTH: CHERRY BAKEWELL TART
This is the Cherry Bakewell Tart, which is a 22 year old Glen Keith single malt matured in sherry butt. Expect a malt with a tart like fruitiness, a mild peppery spice and soft vanilla notes. Sweet red berry with ripe cherry and raspberry cordial. Fluffy sponge cake and brioche. The palate is spicy with a mild pepperiness.
EU MALT OF THE MONTH: PATCHOULI & SANDALWOOD
This 31 year old Glenrothes matured in sherry butt has developed the complex and deep flavours of cherry, currants and ginger cake. Earthy and antique aromas develop over several minutes in the glass like a patchouli and sandalwood oil.
There are layers of complex flavours that shift, develop and evolve with every new taste. Orange oil, stewed red berry fruits, sweetened rye bread, caraway, heather and rich wood influences.
Ben Nevis 1991 Platinum Old and Rare
62.1% abv Scotch Whisky Single Malt Highland
From Hunter Laing’s Old & Rare series of single casks comes this Ben Nevis. Distilled in 1991 and aged for 31 years in an Oloroso sherry butt, this rare dram is limited to 540 bottles at a cask strength of 62.1% abv, free from chill filtration.
Their oldest dram perfectly balances maritime flavours with delicious fruit notes
A stunning well-aged expression from Glen Scotia – their oldest expression so far! This dram was matured in refill bourbon casks before undergoing a four year finish in asingle first fill Oloroso hogshead. The single malt perfectly balances maritime flavours with delicious fruit notes. It arrives at 41.7% abv.
Expect vibrant aromas of dried fruit, rich toffee, and sea salt. The palate was silky with brown sugar-dusted apples and pears. The finish is long with the sea salt returning along with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.
