Cardhu 12 Year Old Gift Pack

From the Highlands of Scotland, Cardhu 12 Year Old is the perfect festive single malt. Expect heather, resin, sweet honey-nut notes and a whisp of smoke. Featuring two whisky tumblers.

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£44.34 / us$45*

NOSE At full strength, heady, nose prickle, pear drops and tightly integrated heather, resin and sweet honey-nut notes. Enticing. Intriguing. With a little water, still harmonious but less pronounced, allowing some malt cereal, soft, spicy wood, moorland and faint traces of wood-smoke to appear.

PALATE Well balanced, smooth mouthfeel; short punch, sweet and fresh, then a pronounced drying effect. Moorish. Enjoyable at any time, with little or no water.

FINISH Lingering sweet smoke in the attractive, drying aftertaste.

John and Helen Cumming began producing malt whisky using a single illicit still at their Cardhu Farm in 1811. This ditillery was officially established at Cardhu in 1824 when it was equipped with two small stills and output was necessarily quite small until a new purpose built distillery was constructed just up the road and equipped with four stills. Cardhu Distillery is a malt whisky distillery situated in Scotland’s Speyside whisky region and a contributor to Diagio’s Johnnie Walker blended scotch. Featured in the distillery range are the Cardhu 12 year old, 15 year old and Amber Rock.

The 138th Auction ENDS TONIGHT with over 9000 bottles to choose from.  With an auction this large we thought we’d save you some scrolling time, so we’ve highlighted a few special expressions!.

Macallan Red Collection 71, 74 & 78 Year Old 3 x 70cl

The Macallan Red Collection is one of the finest series of bottlings released in recent years.  This lot contains 3 of the oldest bottlings in the series, the 71 Year Old, 74 Year Old and the oldest bottling in the collection the 78 Year Old.  It’s rare to see even one of these come to the secondary market, so the chance to purchase all three in one fell swoop really doesn’t come around that often.  If this is something you’re collecting then this is an opportunity to purchase almost half the entire collection in one go.

Bowmore 1969 50 Year Old Vaults Series

This outstanding release is the final whisky in the acclaimed Vaults Series, the Bowmore 1969 50 Year Old. Matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, Bowmore themselves describe the flavour profile as ‘undefinable’ and boasting of an equally cryptic ‘enigma of flavours’.  This is the first time through one of our auctions for this grand old dram, and we expect there to be high demand for this vanishingly rare and exceedingly exquisite expression.

Springbank 1966 Local Barley Cask #441 75cl

The Campbeltown region, once known as ‘the whisky capital of the world’, produces some of the finest single malts in Scotland.  This Springbank 1966 Local Barley Cask #441 75cl is yet another spectacular dram from the Campbeltown distilling heavyweight.  Distilled way back in January 1966 this rare whisky was then held in a single sherry cask before finally being bottled in June 1990.  The 1966 vintages from the Springbank Local Barley Series have steadily grown in legend and stature in the whisky collecting world, using only local malted barley and bottled at a mighty 61.2% this dram is not for the fainthearted.

Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 Lalique Decanter

Finally, we’ll finish up with another remarkable expression from Speyside’s most famous distillery, the Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 Lalique Decanter.  We’ve had this through the auction a few times now and whenever we do it never fails to elicit a gasp or two from our staff.  As if the 1950 vintage malt wasn’t enough this breathtaking whisky is presented in a bespoke Lalique decanter which is itself housed in a weighty leatherbound almanac of the highest quality.

As well as these top-shelf drams we also have over 9000 other bottles to choose from.  With this many bottles in the auction there really is something for everyone so dive in to this month’s auction, start building your watchlist, and happy bidding to one and all!

Our final collection schedule for 2022 has now been finalised. You can view the schedule and register your interest in a collection HERE

The deadline for requests is 12 noon on Monday 12th December 2022, after this time we will start working on the routes before contacting all customers with appointment details.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Unfortunately this service is not available in London or to those customer who live within 10 miles of a collection point.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift. In addition a submission form and label should be completed. Submission forms can now be completed via your main accounts page.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

Three great basic whiskies for 2023

Operation Marambio – He Who Dares, Wins!

A military operation, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, 5-year-old Argentinian whisky, the harsh Antarctica climate, one crazy idea, three collaborators and now years’ worth of patience, in 2022 a bold plan was hatched…

On 7/11/22, Nestor Serenelli secretly boarded a military Lockheed C-130 Hercules plane bound for Camp Marambio, a permanent, all-year-round Argentine station on the Antarctic continent.    Armed not with top-secret government files or military-grade equipment, Serenelli was transporting two barrels of his 5-year-old Argentine whisky.

What was supposed to be a routine flight to Antarctica turned out to be a more complicated affair…

The Flight of Nestor Serenelli

The exact departure date for Nestor’s flight was uncertain and on several occasions, his hopes were raised and then dashed as scheduled flights were cancelled due to severe weather conditions.  The month of October saw little whisky production at the La Alazana distillery, as Nestor was left in a perpetual state of limbo waiting for an opportune weather window.  The whisky was emptied into transportation kegs, to be later transferred back into casks in Antarctica, and transported along with all of the equipment required for the mission to Buenos Aires in advance.

Finally, the weather window appeared and Lila, Nestor’s wife and partner in La Alazana, dropped him at the airport where he made his way to the capital to board a C-130 Hercules for the first leg of the trip to Rio Gallegos, deep in Patagonia.  He spent the night there and crossed to Camp Marambio, Antarctica, the following day.  Operation Marambio now entered its most crucial stage and time was of the essence upon landing.

Nestor at the base

Up against the clock, Nestor was given a strict 4-hour window to move all casks and barrels off the plane, empty the kegs into the wooden casks, pack up and have everything back on board for departure or face being stranded for weeks, possibly months in Antarctica…

Thankfully, with the assistance and logistical help of the Argentine military who went above and beyond their call of duty, Nestor was saved from being marooned at the bottom of the world and the threat of becoming the Antarctic version of Chuck Noland was averted.

Nestor & the whisky

Nestor, along with the Argentine military, offloaded the casks from the plane, siphoned the whisky back out of the kegs into the casks and stored them safely for maturation on the southernmost continent.  Before leaving, Nestor stencilled onto one of the casks the Rosewin Holdings logo, snapped a few photos and took a moment to take in the gravity of the history-making achievement and his otherworldly surroundings.

Nestor reported that in all his life he has never seen such a place, claiming there are no words to describe such extreme beauty – one must go to feel it. A desolate, harsh, beautiful landscape.   Frost and ice all over the land and a never-ending wind. He saw Penguins but not much else.

The plan is to make this an annual occurrence in the hope that the Antarctic environment and terroir will create the final frontier of whisky flavours available on this earth.  There are talks and plans of maturing the next casks in an ice cabin on another base much closer to the south pole where the temperatures range between -40 and -5 with average winter wind speeds of over 100mph.

Daniel Monk & Nestor Serenelli

It is a miracle that Operation Marambio happened so quickly.  Daniel Monk arrived in Argentina to visit La Alazana on 22 March of this year.  His initial interest was in their casks of whisky. As they chatted, Daniel shared with them his dream of maturing whisky on the Antarctic continent, with the view to creating a 7 continents whisky series.  As the Sereneli’s eyes lit up they made a promise there and then that they would find a way, no matter the obstacles, to achieve this goal.  Within 8 months of the seed being planted and with the help of the Argentine Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces the Serenelis have achieved the impossible and Mr Monk’s dreams of maturing whisky on all 7 continents have been made a reality.

This is a true example of how collaborations and partnerships help each other grow, an example of Napoleon Hills’ ‘3rd mind’ concept.  How a harmony of power is created when a group of people come together with a definite purpose.  Whatever anybody’s dreams are right now we can all achieve them with action.  The Serenelis landed on their Marambio.  We can too.

The operation was the combined efforts and planning of Nestor and Lila Serenelli of La Alazana, Argentina’s first and only whisky distillery, Daniel Monk, founder and MD of Rosewin Holdings, an independent bottling company investing in premium new world whisky and current holders of the Guinness World Records largest bottle of whisky called ‘The Intrepid’, and the logistical support of the Argentine Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces.

Word by Scott McCann

If you’re looking to give a gift that’s a bit different this year – perhaps something unexpected, unconventional, or creative – why not give the gift of Compass Box?

From delicate to decadent, fiery to fruity – our award-winning whiskies span a rich spectrum of compelling flavours. So, whether you’re buying a gift for a whisky connoisseur, or someone looking to explore, we’ve got something to suit all tastes…

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The south coast of Islay, Ardbeg Distillery was established by local farmers and distiller John MacDougall, beginning commercial production in 1815. Today it is one of the island’s fastest growing distilleries and prides itself upon using entirely traditional methods of production. Using malted barley sourced from the maltings at Port Ellen , Ardbeg claims to produce the peatiest whisky in Islay. Boasting several official bottlings, Ardbeg has garnered an array of accolades in recent years from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and at international spirit ratings competitions.

Joe Gunner the incredible Spirits Ambassador for Moet Hennessy UK will be coming down talking us through an incredible smoky line-up:

Ardbeg 5yo Wee Beastie
Ardbeg 10yo
Ardbeg An Oa
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardbeg Corryvreckan

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Until midnight on 11th December, we’re offering you the chance to receive a complimentary branded Glencairn Glass, worth £6.95, when you purchase one of our single malt whiskies online or in-store.* The perfect addition to your whisky cabinet, it also makes for a beautiful gift to which you can add a personalised gift note.

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Discover Our CollectionTerms and Conditions: One free Glencairn Glass per order of any 70cl bottle of whisky. Offer valid until midnight Sunday 11th December 2022 and is subject to availability. Available online or in-store. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount codes or offers.

Cotswolds Distillery Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road Stourton Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5EX

BENROMACH – CASK STRENGTH

BATCH 1 – 10 YEAR OLD

70cl | 60.2% ABV

This superb Scotch Single Malt Whisky is packed with rich and spicy Sherry aromas and flavours, with notes of vanilla, orange zest, black pepper, and a soft, smoky finish.

Unlike most Speyside distilleries, Benromach use peated malt for their whiskies, imbuing them with a subtly smoky character. Benromach Cask Strength has been naturally bottled at a robust strength of 60.2% ABV, without chill filtration or added colour. The Whisky was matured exclusively in first fill Sherry casks for 10 years.

This is a bold and uncompromising Whisky that really packs a punch, so it might not be for everyone. But we loved its impressive concentration, pungent aromatics, and Sherry drenched fruitiness.

£59.95

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