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Built in 2017 Lagg is a sister to Arran Distillery, but produces only heavily peated malts.This distillery is paying homage to Arran tradition, for hundreds of years, to increase their income, small Arran communities made their own spirit in illicit home-made stills. The resulting whisky, which became known as ‘Arran Waters’, was smuggled from Lagg and sold on mainland Scotland.
Lagg Kilmory Edition
The Lagg Kilmory Edition is a single malt whisky from the Lagg Distillery on the Isle of Arran. Matured in a 100% first-fill bourbon barrel, its 46% ABV is bottled without chill filtration and provides a natural pale gold colour. Enjoy the classic oak notes and subtle peaty aromas.
NOSE: Heather smoke and charred citrus.
PALATE: Initial burst of fruit gives way to subtle bonfire smoke.
FINISH: Long lasting finish.
£49.99
Find inspiration for your next dram in our selection of five-star rated whiskies, featuring intensely smoky Islay classics, sherry bombs, elegant Japanese whiskies and more. Whether you spot an old favourite or you’re tempted to try something outside of your comfort zone, these drams are all worth a try.
Check out our full list of customer favourites – some of the most highly-rated drinks on our website, as reviewed by you!
£45.00
Meet the very first core range release from Lochlea – Our Barley! The acclaimed new single malt maker is a Lowland grain-to-glass pioneer, and this bottling celebrates the team’s journey so far.
Matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels, oloroso Sherry casks and STR barriques, Our Barley offers a sunny array of grassy, honey, peach and vanilla notes. It’s the perfect dram to sit with and sip on a summer day.
In the market for more sunshine drams? Scroll on down for four more of our favourite seasonal whiskies.
ARDGOWAN DISTILLERY EXPANDS AWARD-WINNING
CLYDEBUILT COLLECTION
Ardgowan Distillery Company Limited has released a whisky dedicated to the crucial work carried out by riveters in the shipbuilding yards of the Clyde.
While waiting for the construction of its own distillery, Ardgowan has created an independent bottling business and launched the award winning Clydebuilt series of whiskies, inspired by the rich maritime history of the Clyde shipyards.
The fourth bottling, Clydebuilt Riveter, signals a move away from previous blended expressions, becoming the first single grain whisky in the Clydebuilt collection.
Clydebuilt Riveter encompasses a collection of fifteen exceptional casks meticulously sourced from a prestigious Lowland distillery, each one artfully matured in premium bourbon barrels. The flavour profile has been guided by the discerning palate of Ardgowan’s Master Whisky Maker, the visionary Max McFarlane, who commented:
“Clydebuilt Riveter has allowed me to further explore the depth of flavour found in Lowland distilleries resulting in a liquid that treats the senses to new delights and is sure to be another winner for Clydebuilt.
‘Riveter pours like liquid gold, with a nose that opens on dark fruit compote before moving into furniture polish, lemon curd, figs, leather and old books. The palate is dry and moreish, with butterscotch, five spice, mint choc chip and brown sugar. A lingering, lovely, and very smooth finish follows, drying down slowly.”
Riveter serves as a triumphant tribute to the masterful artistry and unwavering dedication of the Clyde Shipyards’ workers, whose unparalleled skill and unrivalled efficiency birthed the renowned term “Clydebuilt,” a synonymous expression for well-built ships.
Embraced by esteemed industry accolades, the previous Clydebuilt releases have garnered prestigious awards, with Clydebuilt Sailmaker being honoured with the coveted Master Medal at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2022, while Clydebuilt Shipwright earned a distinguished silver medal at the IWSC Spirits Awards 2022.
Bottled at 50% ABV and retailing for £52.50, Clydebuilt Riveter is available at www.ardgowandistillery.com and selected specialist retailers.
To purchase Riveter directly, click here.
To sign up to the mailing list and to receive exclusive access to future product releases from Ardgowan Distillery, click here.
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TASTING NOTES:
NOSE:
Opens on dark fruit compote before moving into furniture polish, lemon curd, figs, leather and old books.
PALATE:
Dry and moreish, with butterscotch, five spice, mint choc chip and brown sugar.
FINISH:
A lingering, lovely, and very smooth finish follows, drying down slowly.
ABOUT ARDGOWAN DISTILLERY LIMITED:
Ardgowan Distillery Company Limited has full planning permission for the construction of an eco-friendly single malt whisky distillery, gin distillery and visitor centre on the historic Ardgowan Estate near Inverkip, 30 miles west of Glasgow.
Ardgowan Distillery Limited has invested in world-class technologies to put sustainability at the heart of its plans, aiming to become carbon negative. The distillery will begin production in 2024 with capacity to produce up to 1 million litres of premium whisky per year, and the combined facilities will create up to 47 new local jobs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: www.ardgowandistillery.com
Instagram: @ardgowandistillery
Twitter: @ardgowanwhisky
Facebook: @ardgowandistillery
Don’t miss out this month on the perfect pair of black label bottlings for a hot summer’s day – both of these beauties are 21-years old, from our Spicy & Sweet flavour profile, and have spent their entire maturation in first fill bourbon hogsheads. One’s a Lowlander, the other a Highlander – but both demonstrate whisky’s power to transport you with an explosion of aroma and a single sip. Intrigued? Well, have a gander at all the other SUMMERY black labels we have to offer..
Cask No. 5.121 GOLDEN AUTUMN HARVEST
A delightful whiff of sweetness with spun sugar, fudge, marshmallows dipped in chocolate and caramel cups with nougat. Then be transported to Scottish summers with floral laurels, dried wildflowers, black fruits and cappuccino hints. On the palate pencil shavings, lemon, bitter chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice root.
Cask No. 19.95 MASCARPONE’S KITCHEN
Prepare to be whisked away to the Mediterranean with this mascarpone with orange zest and notes of dark cherries. On the palate, a tingling mace followed by fennel, brown sugar and blood orange. This cask is a holiday in a bottle.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information
This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!
Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video
Silent season is a tradition in the whisky industry where our Still Room and Warehouse close for rest and repair each summer. It’s not a job to be hurried as you can imagine. This year’s silent season will take place from 28 June – 10 August, which will also allow our production team to take a well earned rest after a busy year producing the Glengoyne you all know and love.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SILENT SEASON AT GLENGOYNE
Although we won’t be distilling, the distillery and shop will still remain open 7 days and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to see the other side of distillery life. We have crafted a new range of Silent Season Experiences for you to enjoy, and you’ll be sure to receive a warm Glengoyne welcome.
Until the 1970s, many distilleries used to keep their workers sweet with a daily dram; Glengoyne was no exception, but the tipple our workers enjoyed has a story of its own.
To celebrate the launch of Teapot Dram No. 9 join us for a tour of the distillery grounds where you’ll hear tales from Glengoyne’s rich past, and how this iconic whisky came to be. Then enjoy a tutored tasting to unlock the bold and complex flavours of two award-winning whiskies from the Glengoyne Collection. Finally, you’ll be taken to a special spot to enjoy a dram of the newly poured and much sought-after Teapot No.9.
After your tour, the distillery shop will be open if you’d like to take home your very own bottle of Teapot No. 9 before it sells out.
This tour is currently only available from 28 June – 10 August and does not include a tour of our production areas which will be closed for maintenance.
“The early dawn chorus breaks the morning silence as the timeless smell of buttery toast wafts through the air. With nostalgia filled nostrils giving way to indulgent helpings of sticky raisins and mouth-watering fruit, this dram takes you yearningly down memory lane.”
This single malt is a dreamy journey through whisky – the creamy mouthfeel with layers of butterscotch triggers a lost memory you perhaps thought you’d lost. Needless to say, this release is not one to miss.
HIGHLAND PARK ANNOUNCES NEW
CASK STRENGTH RELEASE NO.4 SCOTCH WHISKY
June 2023: Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its new Cask Strength Release No.4 ahead of the distillery’s 225th Anniversary in September. Cask Strength Release No.4 is Highland Park in its purest form. Neither diluted nor chill-filtered, Cask Strength Release No.4 delivers a robust and intense flavour and will be available globally from May in limited at £80 RRP with an ABV of 64.3%, and available from end of June in the UK market from The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Amathus, and Master of Malt.
The launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 sees Highland Park use a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-port casks to the series for the first time, adding aromas of toasted coconut and Turkish Delight. the whisky is a naturally deep, rose gold colour, driven entirely by Highland Park’s casks, without additives. Cask Strength Release No.4 is matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads and a small quantity of refill casks – all hand selected by Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker.
Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker, comments: “For me, a cask strength whisky really celebrates an individual’s whisky journey, best enjoyed with your own personal level of water and ice added. The peat from our home in Orkney gives the whisky a completely different character with aromatic heather smoke and unexpected contrasts in sweet and smoky flavours.”
Highland Park produces each Cask Strength whisky in batches, annually, which allows the Master Whisky Maker the freedom to experiment with interesting and exciting styles of casks. This year, expect aromas of crushed lemons and cedarwood, along with peat smoke. On the palate, zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge, expertly balanced with toasted oak and heather-rich peat. A long finish gives way to sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice.
To celebrate the launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 in the brand’s 225th anniversary year, Highland Park has partnered with UK-based woodworker, Jamie Gaunt, to design a commemorative art piece, shaped from the oak cask staves used to mature the whisky. Inspired by both the flavours of Cask Strength Release No.4 and history of Highland Park, Gaunt’s sculpture will be on display in Orkney from summer 2023.
Jamie Gaunt, comments: “The crafts of whisky production and woodworking draw many parallels. Just as I transform a piece of wood, wood has the same impact on whisky. Cask Strength Release No.4 is no different; each of the casks used in the whisky contribute to the complex flavours and aromas. To commemorate the launch, I have transformed the staves from the casks to create a unique design inspired by Highland Park in its purest form.”
To find out more about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com
About the 2023 release of Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.4
RRP: £80
ABV: 64.3%
Appearance: Deep, rose gold colour
Tasting notes: Cask Strength Release No. 4 opens with enticing aromas of toasted coconut, driven by the ex-bourbon casks, along with crushed lemons and cedarwood; there’s a delightful hint of Turkish Delight in the aromatic peat smoke too, thanks to the influence of the ex-port casks. Intriguing flavours of zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge on the palate, expertly balanced by earthier suggestions of toasted oak and heather-rich peat, while the long finish reveals exotic sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice running through the final breath of floral peat smoke.
About Highland Park:
Whisky has been distilled at Highland Park in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Founder Magnus Eunson, was a direct descendant of Vikings who settled in Orkney over 1,000 years ago. A butcher and church officer by day and a bootlegger and smuggler by night, he set up an illegal whisky-making operation at a little bothy (a stone hut) at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall. It is still the site of the distillery today and although we say Highland Park was founded in 1798, that’s actually the year the authorities finally caught up with Magnus.
Few trees survive the gale-force winds on Orkney. This makes the island peat woodless and rich in heather. This then helps create the trademark Highland Park flavour profile of aromatic smoky peat and sweet heather honey.
