Welcome to this weeks episode of the show. This week continues the ‘accelerated maturation’ theme that I briefly touched on last week.

https://youtu.be/iWSwv8bHBE8

JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY RELEASES 2019 SINGLE BARREL “HERITAGE BARREL” TENNESSEE WHISKEY

 

Award-winning, limited-edition Tennessee whiskey celebrates historic craftsmanship steeped in tradition

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (October 17, 2019) – Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel “Heritage Barrel” will return to shelves for a limited run this fall. Fewer than 200 barrels, aged in barrels crafted in the classic style used by Jack Daniel himself in the company’s earliest days, have been hand-picked by Master Distiller Jeff Arnett and his team of whiskey makers for this special release. Last year’s edition was named one of the top three whiskeys of 2018 by Whisky Advocate.

With an extra year aged at the highest altitude of the Jack Daniel Distillery’s warmest barrelhouse, this year’s iteration of Heritage Barrel will have a greater depth of color and character for fans of the original run to enjoy. The rich vanilla, oak spice and sweet caramel flavors are derived from a unique barrel toasting you won’t find in any other Single Barrel expression. Each heritage barrel is slowly heated to achieve a deeper, richer toasted layer before being charred, evoking the barrels of the distillery’s earliest coopers. 

“The second release of Heritage Barrel will be everything that the first issue was, and then some,” said Arnett. “As the angels share grows, each drop becomes more precious and this whiskey is guaranteed to not disappoint.”

 

Jack Daniel’s is the only major whiskey company in the world to make its own barrels, crafted from American white oak and hand raised by our expert coopers. The unique barrels crafted to mature “Heritage Barrel” take a trip back in time to Jack’s humble beginnings and celebrate the vital maturation process that takes Tennessee whiskey from the distillery, to the bottle.

 

The limited-edition bottle will hit shelves in mid-October available in a 750ml size with a suggested retail price of $64.99. 

 

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

With its usual lack of fanfare (followed by a lot of internet-based raging), the latest edition of ‘The World’s Leading Whisky Guide’ has landed – Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020.

It’s a big year for Jim. It’s 2020 and matching up (just in time), he has hit a milestone – breaking the 20,000 mark of total whiskies tasted since the first edition appeared in 2003. Whether you agree with his scores and favourites or not, you have to agree that he’s tried a lot of whisky.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 – my favourite cover yet

Print copies of the Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 will be arriving imminently, but in the meantime, let’s get on to the thing that everyone wants to know: who are the big winners this year.

The Winners

Jim Murray’s 2020 World Whisky of the Year

1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Second Finest Whisky in the World

William Larue Weller 125.7 Proof – 2018 Release

Third Finest Whisky in the World

Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye 128.8 Proof – 2018 Release

Single Cask of the Year

Nantou Omar Cask Strength Bourbon Cask #11140804

Thoughts

Despite the expected presence of some of last year’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in the line-up, this is still an interesting selection.

1792 is far from the biggest name in American whiskey, but the last decade has seen the distillery that makes it – Barton – develop and become a much better-known player. The fact that it was bought by Sazerac – owners of Buffalo Trace – in 2009, giving them the backing they needed to grow, will no doubt set conspiracy theories running across the internet.

Much more interesting to me is the single cask of the year – a whisky from Taiwan’s second distillery, Nantou. While Kavalan has been paving the way around the world for whisky from Taiwan, the state-owned Nantou distillery has been quietly impressing whisky fans. Its whisky is hard to get, and it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change any time soon – Nantou is a small operation which can’t distil all year round due to the heat and humidity during spring and summer.

The Omar range – bourbon- and sherry-cask single malts – are well-balanced and tasty whiskies, but it’s the single casks where the distillery really shines. Hopefully, this nod from Jim will lead to more of them making their way to the UK.

The Winners 2020

The winners list is much more than just the top four. The bible covers whisky from across the world and Jim sometimes uncovers a hidden gem, as well as reaffirming his (and, in a lot of cases, our) favourites.

You can find all the winners we have in stock on our Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019 page.

Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky of the Year
Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)
The Macphail 1949 China Special Edition 1

Scotch Blend of the Year
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old

Scotch Grain of the Year
The Last Drop Dumbarton 1977

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year
Glen Castle Blended Malt 1990

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

No Age Statement
Glen Grant Rothes Chronicles Cask Haven

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 10 Years

10 Years & Under (Single Cask)
Annandale Man O’ Sword

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 15 Years Batch Strength

11-15 Years (Single Cask)
Signatory Vintage Edradour Ballechin 12 Year Old

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

16-21 Years (Single Cask)
Whisky Castle Glen Spey Aged 21 Years

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1996

22-27 Years (Single Cask)
The Whisky Shop Glendronach Aged 26 Years

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)
Ben Nevis 32 Years Old 1966

28-34 Years (Single Cask)
Gordon & MacPhail Inverleven 1985

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)
Port Ellen 39 Years Old

35-40 Years (Single Cask)
Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1978 W18

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)
Glen Scotia 45 Year Old

41 Years & Over (Single Cask)
The Macphail 1949 China Special Edition 1

Blended Scotch Whisky

No Age Statement (Standard)
Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium)
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare

5-12 Years
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old

13-18 Years
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old

19 – 25 Years
Dewar’s Aged 25 Years The Signature

26 – 50 Years
The Last Drop 56 Year Old Blend

Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Years Cask Strength

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Years Cask Strength

Irish Single Malt of the Year
Bushmills Aged 21 Years

Irish Blend of the Year
Jameson

Irish Single Cask of the Year
Kinahan’s Special Release Project 11 Year Old

American Whiskey

Bourbon of the Year
1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Rye of the Year
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 128.8 Proof

US Micro Whisky of the Year
Garrison Brothers Balmorhea

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)
291 Barrel Proof Colorado Whiskey Aged 2 Years

Bourbon

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)
1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

No Age Statement (Single Barrel)
Colonel E H Taylor Single Barrel Bottled In Bond

9 Years and Under
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

10-12 Years
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Aged 12 Years

11-15 Years
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Years Old

16-20 Years
Michter’s 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

21 Years and Over
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Years Old

Rye

No Age Statement
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 128.8 Proof

Up to 10 Years
Knob Creek Cask Strength

11-15 Years
Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Years Old

Over 15 Years
Sazerac 18 Years Old

Single Cask
Knob Creek Single Barrel Select

Canadian Whisky

Canadian Whisky of the Year
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Japanese Whisky

Japanese Whisky of the Year
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

Single Malt of the Year (MB)
The Matsui Mizunara Cask

European Whisky

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)
Thy Whisky No. 9 Bøg Single Malt (Denmark)

European Whisky of the Year (Single)
Penderyn Single Cask no. M75-32 (Wales)

World Whisky

Asian Whisky of the Year
Nantou Distillery Omar Bourbon Cask #11140804 (Taiwan)

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year
Bakery Hill Peated Malt Cask Strength (Australia)

– SUMMER EVENINGLIGHT AT GLENGOYNE – 

Complete your collection with the fourth and final instalment of our creative collaboration with beloved Scottish contemporary artist, Jolomo.

Inspired by his time spent drawing at Glengoyne during his student days, the specially commissioned “Summer Eveninglight at Glengoyne Distillery” was created by John Lowrie Morrison OBE (aka Jolomo). Bursting with vibrant colours, his painting captures the tranquil Scottish countryside that surrounds one of Scotland’s most beautiful distilleries – our distillery.

Printed on limited-edition Glengoyne 10 Year Old gift tins, you’ll also find every tin comes with a print of the painting making this an excellent gift for whisky and art enthusiasts alike.

This final instalment in our limited edition collaboration with Jolomo is now available from our website (just in time for Christmas if we dare mention that in October!).

BUY NOW

Sláinte!

Glengoyne 

Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB
Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

Email: reception@glengoyne.com

Exclusives at The Whisky Shop

Our exclusive whisky range contains some very special whiskies, with many of them winning the highest accolades, each one highly limited. Scroll down to learn more…

Glendronach 1993 26 Year Old #7434

Although this particular expression is brand new and hasn’t had the chance to be reviewed by Jim Murray yet, the previous Whisky Shop exclusive Glendronach has been given a score of 96 in the 2020 edition of The Bible.

We’re sure this expression will score highly too!

£239.00

Buy Now

Old Pulteney 2006 #1448

Recently scoring 91.5 in the 2020 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, this W Club Member Exclusive matured for more than a decade in cask #1448, before being selected for bottling in 2019.

Only 276 individually numbered bottles have been filled, each one presented at a natural cask strength of 51.4% abv.

£99.00

Buy Now

Loch Lomond 2004 Single Cask

Distilled in October 2004 and matured for more than 14 years in a single cask (#15/624-1), this Highland single malt has been bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop in May 2019. Released at a cask strength of 54.4% abv free from chill filtration, just 267 bottles have been produced.

Described by Jim Murray as “a distillery in its very finest clothes”, as he scored it 94.5.

£110.00

Buy Now

Glen Scotia 1999 Single Cask

“Really extracts every last caramel molecule out of the cask!” – Jim Murray

Originally distilled and filled to its cask in the year 1999 and eventually bottled at a strong 58.4% (cask strength) in April 2019, this rare gem from Glen Scotia has only produced 196 bottles exclusively for The Whisky Shop.

£135.00

Buy Now

The Loch Fyne Springbank 28 Year Old Gift Set

This single cask from Loch Fyne Whiskies in Inveraray was distilled at Campbeltown’s Springbank distillery in 1989 and matured for almost three decades before bottling in 2018 produced just 211 bottles. Presented at a natural cask strength of 40.07% abv, this limited edition was awarded the accolade of Liquid Gold in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019. Presented in a handsome gift set with two Glencairn hand-cut crystal glasses.

Described as “a big, soft, archetypal Springbank that delivers an encyclopaedia of aromas and flavours, from honeyed sweetness to spiced ripe fruit with a long, warming and delicate finish.”

£350.00

Buy Now

Friday October 25th 5-7 PM

Bourbon Tasting: 

Smoke Wagon 

A two-time San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Winner, Smoke Wagon is enjoyed for it’s big rye spice and smooth bourbon finish- a feat only accomplished through expert blending. Come by from 5-7 PM for a taste of this award-winning bourbon, with distillery ambassadors and bourbon experts present for all your spirit-related questions.

More Details & RSVP

Unfortunately there won’t be a review this week..back on track next week!

‘Father of Single Malt’ honoured with Centenary Release

Whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has released a single malt to honour George Urquhart, member of the second generation of the company’s owning family, in what would have been his centenary year.

Laid down in 1956, the year ‘Mr George’ as he was known by colleagues, became senior partner, the 62-year-old single malt features spirit from one of his favourite distilleries, Glen Grant. 

Renowned whisky writer Charles MacLean remarked, “It is no exaggeration to say that George Urquhart was the father, the originator, of the current success and appreciation of Scotch malt whiskies.”

Joining the business in 1933, George Urquhart began his career working alongside his father, John, who had become sole owner of the company in 1915 after John Alexander MacPhail’s retirement and James Gordon’s passing.

‘Mr George’ went on to develop a deep understanding of Scotch whisky, especially the unique interaction that occurs over time between spirit and cask. He was instrumental to the success of single malt, championing it at a time when the vast majority of whisky went towards the production of blends.  In 1968, he created the Connoisseurs Choice range giving little-known distilleries a platform to have their whisky enjoyed in its simplest form, as aged single malt.

Over many decades George Urquhart forged new relationships with many of Scotland’s distillers and became arguably the world’s foremost expert in how to combine oak, spirit and time to create single malt whiskies.

His philosophy and legacy live on today as Gordon & MacPhail continues to create a unique depth and breadth of rare single malt Scotch whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

Released as a fitting tribute to this legacy, the Mr George Centenary Edition 1956 from Glen Grant Distillery has been selected for bottling by George Urquhart’s grandson, Stuart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail.

Laid down by Mr George Urquhart himself in a hand-selected first fill Sherry Butt on 13 December 1956, the expression also pays tribute to Speyside, where Mr George spent many years building long-standing relationships with the region’s distilleries.

The commemorative whisky is presented in an exquisite glass decanter and a wooden presentation case. The red and white design is a modern interpretation of the original Connoisseurs Choice bottles from 1968.

Today, Mr George’s legacy is built upon by his family, including his grandson Stephen Rankin, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Prestige.

Stephen comments: “My grandfather’s drive, commitment and foresight helped to ensure that single malt Scotch whisky grew in popularity. His introduction of the Connoisseurs Choice range in 1968 was a landmark moment for the sector, launched as several new export markets opened and growth in demand for single malts came from countries including Italy.

“Our specially selected Mr George Centenary Edition embodies the qualities that made Mr George a master of his craft; patience, depth of character and exquisite taste. Not only was Glen Grant one of his favourite drams, the year 1956 is especially significant as this was the year George became Senior Partner at Gordon & MacPhail, marking the first step in a new direction for the company.

“It’s also a reminder of the importance of maintaining relationships built on respect – something which has become our family’s philosophy. Many of these relationships, built decades ago, still thrive today.”

Commenting on Mr George’s legacy and impact, Charles Maclean added,: “It would be true to say that during the ‘dark days’ for Scotch malt whisky (the 1940’s-70’s) when all malt went into blends, Gordon & MacPhail kept the amber light burning. Indeed, when times were really tough, some distilleries survived on orders from that company.”

Only 235 bottles of Gordon & MacPhail Mr George Centenary Edition 1956 from Glen Grant Distillery will be available for purchase from selected specialist whisky retailers internationally for £5000* [UK RRP].

For more information, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

#GordonAndMacPhail

Tasting notes

Mr George Centenary Edition from Glen Grant Distillery 

Distillery:  Glen Grant

Region:  Speyside

Distilled:  Thursday 13 December 1956

Bottled: Thursday 27 June 2019

ABV: 51.7%

Age: 62 years

Cask No.: 4455

Cask Type:  First-fill Sherry Butt

Outturn: 235 bottles

Tasting Notes: Intense; SHERRY aromas give way to STEWED DATES with hints of CARAMELISED BROWN SUGAR. Sweet on the palate with sun-dried FRUITS, rich DARK CHOCOLATE PRALINE and bursts of CITRUS ZEST. Notes of CHARRED OAK linger with nuances of subtle SMOKE.

Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

Established in 1895, family-owned Gordon & MacPhail is creator of some of the world’s finest and rarest single malt Scotch whiskies from over 100 distilleries. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued to pursue the perfect partnership between spirit and cask.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail has carefully matched spirit to the highest quality oak casks which are sent to distilleries throughout Scotland, filled with new-make spirit, and matured either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouse in Elgin.

It is this simple but endlessly complex pairing that creates an intriguing and unique portfolio of expressions – single malts that Scotch whisky lovers will not find anywhere else.

In April 2018, the company unveiled its streamlined portfolio:

• ‘Discovery’ – Utterly dependable, this flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies.
• ‘Distillery Labels’ – A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries.
• ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ – The heart of our portfolio – always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
• ‘Private Collection’ – Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family.
• ‘Generations’ – A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces.

Diageo Special Releases 2019

Announced back in July, the Diageo Special Releases 2019 have now been unveiled. The yearly range is a fixture of the whisky calendar, and the past few years have seen a number of changes.

Find out more about what’s changed: Diageo Special Releases 2019 – announced!

This year’s line-up of eight whiskies stretches from a punchy, sherried Cardhu to a surprisingly-smoky Cragganmore, checking in with a few old favourites on the way.

Caroline, Ning, Tom and I got to try them.

SINGLETON OF GLEN ORD 18 YEAR OLD

A cask-strength version of my favourite entry in the Singleton range. Originally only available in the far east, Singleton of Glen Ord has been difficult to find elsewhere, so this is a welcome appearance. It’s been matured in ‘freshly charred American oak hogsheads’, by which I suspect they mean dechar/rechar casks.

For more cask info check out our Glossary of Terms.

Caroline

Nose: Very delicate, with faint notes of smashed apricots and raspberry jam on scones topped with lashings of cream. Chocolate-covered cherries join the party, accompanied by peach and cereal notes, and a hint of wet bramble hedges.

Palate: Notes reminiscent of Grande Champagne Cognac at first. Leather, apricot frangipane, and some mint, alongside the return of those chocolate-covered cherries. Oak spice and tart citrus balance out the sweetness.

Finish: Portuguese custard tarts on top of oak floorboards, with some lingering fruit and a twist of seasoning.

Billy

Nose: Spiced fruit loaf with candied peel. The spicy baked goods theme continues with apple pies, Danish pastries and spiced sponge cake. A zing of lemon zest hides behind the sweetness, along with crunchy barley sugar and travel sweets.

Palate: Buttery notes are quickly washed away by citrus. Spice rebuilds from the back, exploding a ball of prickly cinnamon in the middle of the palate. Things then cam down, revealing orange peel, candied lemon and a touch of polished oak. Hints of mint chocolate sit at the back.

Finish: Leafy mint fades to lemon and orange zest. Oaky spice builds.

Comment: Almost exactly what I’d expect from an 18-year-old, adding some extra oomph to the regular bottling with both an extra kick of ABV, and more fruit and spice.

PITTYVAICH 1989 29 YEAR OLD

Pittyvaich is often described as rare – it was only open for 19 years and closed back in 1993. This is the third Special Release from the distillery since 2015, ‘double-matured’ in oloroso- and Pedro-Ximénez-seasoned casks.

Ning

Nose: Plenty of citrus to start with, followed by Irn Bru, marmite on toast, vanilla, butter and strawberry jam.

Palate: Malty at first, it mellows quickly into vanilla, marmalade, buttery toast and flowers. There’s a hint of something spicy, hidden below a layer of sugared-almonds, fizzy drinks and lemon sherbet.

Finish: A hint of Irn Bru returns, bringing with it caramel, sweet grass, bitter orange and crystalised ginger.

Billy

Nose: Almost fizzy – hints of sourness, yeast and candied peel. Fruity notes build – dried apples and pears with a handful of sultanas – with bready notes leading to darker and richer flavours. Hints of milk chocolate, light fruitcake and brown sugar slowly emerge.

Palate: Creamy texture leading into a complicated palate. Sweet orchard fruit tussles with oak spice, and the fruit wins in the end. The fizziness is back, with sour sugar notes balanced by spiced shortbread. Buttery pastry develops, filled with uncooked apple and ready for the oven.

Finish: Spice lingers, slowly fading to reveal apples, pears, sultanas and damp oak.

Comment: It wouldn’t be a Pittyvaich if it wasn’t a little out of the ordinary, and this combines last year’s yeastiness with a load of fruit to create a very interesting dram – I suspect it’ll split opinion.

DALWHINNIE 30 YEAR OLD

A long-aged and unfussy dram from the Highland favourite (yes, I know it’s legally a Speyside, but that’s just an artefact of parish boundaries and they still call themselves a Highland distillery). A combination of refill hogsheads and butts, matured for more than 30 years – that’s what I’m looking for.

Caroline

Nose: Muddy boots fresh from forest floors, and November bonfires in the distance. Clinical lemon aromas are joined by glacé cherries, iced vanilla buns, and grape jelly. A touch of high-quality olive oil is joined by honeysuckle and burnt orange toffee.

Palate: Waxy, with vanilla toffee, honey and sticky crystalised ginger. Freshly-squeezed berry juice follows, then the cask makes its presence known and spicy oak notes build.

Finish: Heavier spice and dense ginger cake, fading to orange blossom honey.

Billy

Nose: Raisins and spice with leathery hints kick things off. The leather quick fades to reveal freshly polished oak and lightly spiced baked apples. Minty notes creep in around the edges, along with fresh, green leaves. These slowly sweeten into grassy spring meadows with stacks of hay around the edges.

Palate: Sweet and floral to start, with wax-polished oak as a backdrop. Slices of apple and pear follow, with candied flowers and a hint of both zingy lemon zest and bitter pith. There’s biscuits at the base – shortbread, and oatmeal and raisin cookies – all dipped in a bowl of single cream. Spice builds through the middle along with herbal leaves: mint, menthol and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Finish: Polished oak leads to Garibaldi biscuits, lemon jelly and mint choc chips. Cream remains.

Comment: The dram is a bit of a journey. It’s more delicate than the notes above suggest, with a gentle, almost traditional lowland character of grass and hay. A dram that rewards dedication.

CARDHU 2004 14 YEAR OLD

The first of the big sherry casks, matured for a relatively short 14 years in amontillado-sherry seasoned hogsheads. Amontillado’s nutty and elegant character should give us something a bit different to the more classic oloroso casks.

Tom

Nose: Fresh, vibrant candied lemon; light and sherbety. Sweet, A touch of willow frond and nettle.

Palate: Bright and zesty before a rapid descent into seasoned wood, integrated nicely with grilled-orange notes. Sherbet lemons still floating around up top.

Finish: Everything stays; orange, wood, char and a touch of fresh greenery.

Billy

Nose: Caramel sauce and hazelnut brittle with a background of almonds and Italian nutty pastries – panforte bianco. The sweetness becomes fragrant but sharper, with wood polish and waxed lemons taking over. The caramel notes remain along with a handful of oatmeal and raisin cookie.

Palate: Rich and thick, with singed toffee and caramel sauce up front. Dark fruit-cake notes build, with burnt edges and a touch of glacé cherry. Chocolate sauce is poured on top before the addition of a sprig of mint. Soft spice and rich ginger cake complete things.

Finish: Spicy notes slowly fade, leaving dark chocolate, candied orange and damp wood.

Comment: An immediately sherried dram, with toffee and nuts jumping out of the glass. The palate continues that in spades – one of the lovers of sweet sherried drams.

CRAGGANMORE 2006 12 YEAR OLD

A whisky that confused me from its original announcement until the moment I put it in my mouth: ‘A complex and intriguing bottling that combines Speyside elegance with a touch of spice and smoke.’

‘Is this a smoky Cragganmore?’ I asked. ‘But they don’t make smoky whisky at Cragganmore?’ I told everyone who didn’t get away fast enough. Turns out, I was wrong.

This is the first-ever release of smoky Cragganmore, matured in refill American-oak casks.

Caroline

Nose: A coating of bacon dust on soft waxy lemons, key lime pie and damp, mossy tree branches. Intensely sweet purple boiled sweets somehow mingle harmoniously with a dry and ashy peat.

Palate: Oily ash coats the mouth, along with bitter lemon and a flash of orange bitters. Bark and moss come in from the forest, bringing with them a shadow of something weightier, almost stuffing-like.

Finish: Sweeter peat and ripe apples, followed by honey and lemon tea and hints of burning heather.

Billy

Nose: Green smoke – burning leaves and damp peat. Leaf mulch and damp-forest notes build, with a background of stewed apple sweet-and-sourness. Fragrant woody spice develops – sandalwood, thick curls of cinnamon bark and Christmas wreath pine. Fresh seaside breezes slowly roll out of the glass, with a background of buttered malt loaf wafted over by soft breezes of mint and menthol.

Palate: Softer smoke than on the nose, with spiced toffee and sponge cake accompanied by a distant leafy bonfire. Hints of tar and dockside rope develop but disappear behind sweet grain and milk chocolate. Candied orange and spice build through the centre, along with smoky flamed peel.

Finish: Spiced chocolate fades to leave char and sweet damp oak.

Comment: A surprisingly smoky from a distillery that I didn’t realise made smoky spirit. I think we’ll see this one disappear quickly – it’s an interesting new take on an old favourite, and rather good with it.

TALISKER 2002 15 YEAR OLD

After last year’s stellar Talisker 8 Year Old, I was intrigued as to how they’d follow it. With the regular unpeated Caol Ila dropped from the line-up, I was wondering if this could fill the gap – a dark and spicy aged for 15 years sounds like a good swap.

Ning

Nose: Rich bonfire smoke mingles with sharp lemon, a hint of vanilla and smouldering driftwood. Some spicier aromas develop – ginger and green chilli – as well as floral lavender.

Palate: Creamy vanilla and driftwood burst forwards, followed by notes of smoke, dark berries, warm spices and malt loaf. A hint of green banana adds a dry edge, before moving to treacle tart, rich buttery pastry and earthy peat.

Finish: Milk chocolate, fresh mint and burnt caramel linger softly, alongside salty sea air and wood smoke.

Billy

Nose: Fields of damp ferns, sea-splashed rocks and smoky dark sugar. Treacle-toffee notes hide at the back, with hints of liquorice and creosote. Splintered fence notes build, restrained by stewed apple and tarte tatin. Soft spice develops along with fruity jelly.

Palate: Earthy and mulchy to start – piles of damp autumn leaves. The darker notes from the nose remain but are joined by sweet chocolate sauce and liquorice. Leafy notes become sweeter, with herbal notes developing. Sweet fruit sponge drops in from above but darkens to become dark fruit cake with a handful of chocolate chips.

Finish: Rich fruit and buttery pastry. Hints of mint and earthiness linger.

Comment: Does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a Talisker, and it’s deeper and spicier than usual. It may have lost its sea-salt and black-pepper trademark character, but it’s still got a touch of shoreline in with a whack of tasty darkness.

LAGAVULIN 12 YEAR OLD

The one remaining regular in the line-up and very much and old favourite. Aged for twelve years in refill American oak, you can get a much rawer Lagavulin than this – no frills, just a punch of southern-Islay character.

Tom

Nose: Lemon oil, fresh-cut citrus peel, soot and warming wood smoke. Cosier than the Talisker; more farmyard than cliff-side. Maybe slightly on warm tar – walking past a roofing crew in the summer.

Palate: Fresh green veg. Sooty and very fresh; all treble. Young, fresh wood and spice. Very excitable but lacking in substance.

Finish: Soot, spent fire and citrus.

Billy

Nose: Sweet green peat and sharp apples – a fire in a damp orchard. Briney edges are balanced by sweet fruity chews and a hint of anise: Fruit Salads with maybe a Blackjack thrown in for good measure. Earthy notes sit underneath with a zing of brine and menthol.

Palate: Very mineral forward – cracked stone and rock pools lead the way. Drying but sweet, with pink shrimp sweets balanced against saucy BBQ smoke, damp earth and peat. Menthol and spice build, with cinnamon fireballs tempered by fruity boiled sweets: lemon lockets and orange lollies.

Finish: Sweet spiced apple and a touch of tar. Bung cloth notes slowly fade.

Comment: It might be the last surviving mainstay of the range, and it slots right back into its niche. Both sweet and more minerally than other years, it shows the punchy side of the spirit that we expect in this yearly release.

MORTLACH 1992 26 YEAR OLD

Last but far from least, the really sherried one – there had to be one. While I was hoping this would be a 26-year-old refill bourbon, that was never going to happen: Mortlach goes with sherry and the Mortlach fans want sherry.

This one has taken that to the max with maturation in first-fill oloroso- and PX-seasoned casks. It takes a heavy spirit to stand up to that, but fortunately, the Beast of Dufftown has teeth…and a bit of weight.

Caroline

Nose: All those notes from re-doing your house: stewed black tea, jam on toast, open paint pots and varnish tins. Then it becomes a dried fruit fiesta, with raisins joined by hot apple upside-down cake with oodles of caramel. A sulphury note does attempt to push through, but the fruit smacks it down.

Palate: Less weighty than first expected, oily but with drying tannin. Lots of hot caramel notes, veering slightly into varnish, are joined by intense clove, plum and liquorice notes. There’s a big wedge of fruitcake too, the kind with lots of spice and dried orange peel.

Finish: London cheesecakes layered with liquid treacle toffee.

Billy

Nose: Leather and tar at first, but with a wave of dried fruit quickly following on behind: a handful of raisins, a bucket of sultanas and a river of caramel-apple sauce. Lumps of polished oak float by, accompanied by ginger cake, toffee sponge and caramel cake bars. Char notes build.

Palate: Spiced sponge cake, burnt raisins and lots of dates. Sweet spice gradually builds, with butter pastry draped over the charred fruit. Berry and menthol notes develop – blackcurrant lozenges? – as well as butterscotch candy and cinnamon toffee. Caramac bars are a surprise, creamy addition before a wave of berry jam pulls us back down into fruity darkness.

Finish: Soft spice and apple cake slowly fade.

Comment: A well put-together sherried dram that will please Mortlach fans. There was much potential for this to go off the rails and turn into a bit of a jammy mess, but it doesn’t – if you like a big sherry-cask dram with stuff going on, you’ll enjoy this.

If you want to see what’s happened in previous years, we’ve got details and tasting notes for all the releases since 2008 here on the blog: 2008 pt1/2008 pt2, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

To learn more about the series’s history, head over to our Diageo Special Releases – what are they? post.

We still have a few bottles from previous year’s releases – you can find them on our Diageo Special Releases page.

Scotch Galore Whiskies – The Alternative to Auctions!

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