Availability:
Award Winning Whiskies
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Glenfarclas 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 43%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
If you like the integration of flavour and pillowy texture that only comes with extended barrel age, this will be difficult to resist.... The buxom vivaciousness of the 15 year old has dissipated - what you get instead is a fresh, cereal-forward dram with all the rough edges rounded out (indeed this may be 'too smooth' for some). Older expressions from this distillery have a reputation for building in the bottle after opening, so breathing this whisky is encouraged.Tasting note: Deep amber gold. Attractive scents of dried figs, ginger bread, plus later hints of smokey cardamom. Wonderful softness here with a pure, uncluttered dried fruit and malt delivery followed by oatmeal biscuit and soft spices. Distant smoke? Subtle honey, cocoa and cereal in the aftertaste. Lovely freshness for its age. The personal favourite of George Grant. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... 2 Double Gold Medals - San Francico World Spirits Competition 2016 & 2015
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Glenmorangie Legends The Tarlogan Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 43%"Fabulous Malt that radiates the countryside." - Jim Murray
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Nestled in a quiet clearing, surrounded by fragrant gorse and towering pines, the Tarlogie Spring has served as the sole water source for the Glenmorangie distillery since 1843. Its unique, mineral-rich waters are said to contribute to the distillery’s fragrant house style.Tasting note: Aged in virgin oak as well as ex-bourbon casks. Bright gold. Floral soft aromas evoke barley sugar, honey, shortbread and cream tea biscuits followed by ripe peach and pepper. In the mouth, this feels more concentrated than 43%; Virgin oak injects coconut and creamy vanillas while the citrus and spice add spark and freshness, finishing with beeswax, cocoa and tangy peel (orange / lime?) It's a beautiful arrangement that's at least as good as the 18 year old. Very Glenmorangie with a lot going on. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… This fabulous malt radiates the countryside in a way very few drams have done before. As refreshing as an early morning dip in a Scottish pond. 95 points- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017
...Tarlogan is the third and most recent release in Glenmorangie’s Legends Collection. Some of the component whisky had been matured in virgin oak casks, while the remainder was aged in bourbon barrels. A hint of freshly-dug soil on the very early nose, then toffee apples, malt, and vanilla kick in. The smooth palate focuses on coconut and more vanilla, with kumquat and lime. Almonds and vanilla in the mildly spicy finish. (Travel Retail exclusive)
88 points - www.maltadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2016) International Spirits Competition Gold Medal 2017![5010494935905_1.jpg]()
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Glenmorangie 19 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 43%Superb malt, in a style that's unique to this distillery.
Awarded Best Single Malt Scotch 19-24 Year Old Category at the International Whisky Competition 2019A duty free edition that references the award winning Glenmorangie Ealanta (both being 19 year olds matured exclusively in slow-growth American oak barrels). Chosen in part by Brendan McCarron, Glenmorangie’s Head of Maturing Stocks, the whisky showcases the soft, smooth character for which the distillery is renowned while preserving a surprising liveliness. “Often, a longer maturation will tone down a spirit’s more perfumed notes,” said McCarron, “But this retains a wonderful vibrancy and zest.”
No question, all-Bourbon aged expressions like this capture the essence of the distillery's style better than any other maturation. If you're a 'Morangie fan, you need to try this. In Jim Murray's words, it's "fresh, subtle and sophisticated" (full review below).
Tasting note: Flawless bright gold / dazzles in the glass. Draws you in with a sultry bouquet that’s floral soft, creamy and fruity-yet-fresh, developing with hints of straw, honey, citrus oils and toasted grains. Five minutes of swirling and air contact releases delightful scents of poached pear, pastry and vanilla. The superb aroma is matched by a wonderful delicacy in the mouth: A super-pure malty entry that dovetails into bitter dark chocolate and hints of orange curacao. Oily to finish then deceptively long. Multifaceted and very polished. Classic. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… Light fruit ensures an ethereal feel totally making a mockery of nearly two decades in the cask: fresh, subtle and sophisticated; the most brittle and vulnerable malt I have experienced from this distillery. Every note is gossamer thin, the grist can fracture at any moment; the delicate fruit shatter into millions of pieces if you chew too hard…bitters…? Fruit or malty…? I can’t decide …but then I don’t think for a moment that you’re supposed to be able to. 94 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018
...I’ve been sipping, analyzing and researching whisky for a decade and a half now. I’ve taken notes on over 2,500 whiskies and easily experienced another 600+ that I never took notes on. During this journey, I’ve had many moments where I favor different styles, but one thing has remained a favorite: ex-Bourbon Scotch. It sounds generic on the surface, but the more I taste the more I enjoy getting at the core profile of a distillery and that’s really found in ex-Bourbon casks. I love sherry, port, Madeira, etc. but the older I get, and the more I experience I have, the more I enjoy coming back to well-crafted ex-bourbon whiskies like this Glenmorangie 19 Years Finest Reserve. It’s just plain good. - thewhiskyjug.com
Double Gold - International Spirits Challenge 2020
Gold Award - The Spirits Business 2017
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1991 Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 26 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$1499. 00Bottle$17988.00 DozenABV: 43%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
The highest scoring whisky at the 2019 International Spirits Competition, Glenmorangie's luxury 1991 bottling has taken out the top prize as Whisky of the Year. Rated 97 points, we have secured the last Australian stocks. Aside from the stunning presentation and unanimous praise, this super-aged Highland gem is priced well under the going rate for the same whisky in the UK. If you are a collector and/or investor, our recommendation is a strong 'buy now'.The 1991 is number four in Glenmorangie’s Bond House No.1 Collection, a series of vintage whiskies that celebrates the largest of the distillery’s traditional 19th century warehouses. Warehouse No.1 was transformed into Glenmorangie’s impressive new still house in 1990.
This year's collector's edition owes its fruity depths to two rare parcels of 1991 whisky which, ordinarily, would never be brought together. Born from spirits originally matured in x Bourbon casks, the whiskies were then finished in red Burgundy casks and oloroso sherry casks, then bought together. According to Glenmorangie, "At first, their characters seem utterly incongruous. Yet, skilfully softened with a hint of whisky aged in new toasted oak, those contrasts unite in a limited-edition single malt whisky astonishingly mellow and deep."
Other reviews... Some years back - indeed, at around the time this whisky was distilled, I was reliably informed by the blender at Glenmorangie that his whisky was not designed for this kind of great age, hence it was bottled at 10 and, at a push and with sherried sticking plaster and grapey crutches, at 18. This has passed 25 now with no apparent damage and with seemingly many more years left on the clock. How times have changed. 94.5 points- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019
...Influenced by a final decade spent in oloroso sherry and Burgundy casks. The nose offers orange segments dipped in honey, plus nougat, icing sugar, and more piercing citrus notes. The palate is supple, with milk chocolate and orange juice, joined by damsons and wood spices. A mouth-drying note persists behind juicy fruits, with aniseed and black pepper. The finish yields peaches dipped in salt and spicy oak. Collectibles. 43% Alc./Vol. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2019)
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Highland Park 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Spring 2019 ReleaseOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$2500. 00Bottle$30000.00 DozenABV: 45.2%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
"...a stellar whisky that is worth every penny."
- Ian Buxton, 101 Whiskies to try before you die.Re-released back in 2011, the now newly presented HP 30 is created from fewer than twenty casks laid down in 1989 and earlier years. Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, took the unusual step of bringing together 3 different cask types for this release. For sweet notes of vanilla and honey with hints of sharp citrus, he selected ex-bourbon casks; to add rich layers of stewed fruit and warm spices, first-fill sherry seasoned casks were selected; and finally, a small but vital number of refill casks were called in to round off the harmony of flavours.
Boasting 'the northernmost Scotch whisky Distillery in the World' in Kirkwall, Orkney, the Highland Park Distillery has an intriguing history of illicit distilling and smuggling. The figure foremost associated with this is Magnus Eunson, a humble beadle by day, he was thought to be utilizing his position as an inconspicuous front for illegal activities (some accounts suggesting he would hide the illicit whisky among the perished). A man of great cunning, he established himself at the Highland Park distillery site in 1798 until forced to close in 1814 where the lot was ironically taken by exciseman John Robertson who long persued Magnus.
Known as Kirkwall distillery until 1876, the name 'Highland Park' derives from the hill where the distillery stands, 'High Park'. The location was thought to be chosen for its water source and as a lookout against approaching exsicemen.
1826 was the year where the distillery gained its licence under the control of Robert Borwick; who went about building the foundations that distinguish the distillery today. For a few decades there were frequent changes in ownership until James Grant took sole control of the business in 1895, replacing the two existing stills with larger ones, and installing two more in 1897. These were known as the glory days of the Scotch whisky industry until 1898 where the closing of Pattisons Blending Co (one of the major blending companies at the time) collapsed, becoming the catalyst for a massive slow down within the Scotch whisky industry that lasted for close to 50 years.
The Grant family retained control until 1937 where it became apart of the Highland distillers portfolio (now Edrington Group). Highland Park stopped distilling for the duration of the Second World War from 1939, confining its use for soldiers of war, the mash tun being used as an enormous bath for some of the 60,000 troops stationed on Orkney. The distillery returned to production in 1945. It wasn’t until 1979 that Highland distillers started to market Highland park as a Single Malt launching its twelve year old brand. Although less than 100 cases were sold, barrel stocks that sat in the warehouse continued to mature beautifully. The company released its 1967 vintage in 1991 with spectacular success. It was the stunning quality of these mature releases which would brand Highland Park in the minds of whisky afficiandos as one of the world’s great spirits.
In 1997 and 1998 came a succession of new releases set to become permanent members in the distillery portfolio, Highland Park 18 year old and Highland Park 25 year old - Highland 18 notably winning numerous awards and accolades form whisky critics around the world. Highland Park whisky today is still a major contributing factor in famous blends such as Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.
The whisky is produced from 20% of the distilleries own maltings (peated to approximately 20ppm) with the remainder being unpeated barley sourced from Tamdhu maltings (now closed) and local peat from Hobbister Hill. Water is hard pumped into the distillery from the Crantit Lagoons with maturation occuring in either ex-Bourbon or first fill sherry barrels.
Other reviews...
"A whisky for the gods...but only if they are worthy..." 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2011![454545400_1.jpg]()
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Highland Park 25 Year Old (Timber Box) Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLANDReduced from $999.00$799. 00Bottle$9588.00 DozenABV: 45.7%Other reviews: (n24) ...big aged oak amid the smoke and honey: it appears something a lot older has gotten in there....; uniquely complex and back to its very best; (t24) - silky and confident, every usual box is ticked - or even double ticked. Much more honey and smoke than i have seen here for a while and it's not all about quantity. What quality! (f24) - long with amazing degrees of oil, almost of the bourbony-corn variety! Helps keep those mind bending honeys coming! (b24) - i am a relieved man: the finest HP 25 for a number of years which displays the distillery's unmistakable fingerprints with a pride bordering on arrogance. One of the most improved bottlings of the year: an emperor of a dram. 96 points
-Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013 ...Deep amber color. Intricately layered aromas of sea salted roasted almonds, suede, toasted fruit cake, floral honey, and faint smoked dried meat with a chewy fruity-yet-dry full body and a long, warming, and very complex finish with waving of exotic fruits, spices, vanilla, singed peat, and earth rushing forth on the palate. A stunningly flavorful and resonant whisky.
International Review of Spirits Award: Platinum Medal
98 points (Superlative) - www.tastings.com![14165165011_1.jpg]()
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Hyde No.6 Presidents Reserve Blended Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELANDReduced from $110.00$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 46%A blend of 18 year old single malt combined with 8 year old grain whiskey, finished in a sherry cask. This took out the award for top Irish blend at the 2018 World Whisky Awards in the UK. Tasting note: [from a 20ml sample] Brilliant polished gold. The delicate, medium-sweet fragrance suggests shortbread and dustings of milk chocolate, wild honey and vanilla wafer. Develops hints of dried fruits (apricot / dates)? Lovely poise and grace, opening floral soft. Flavours of Toblerone bar rounded off with a superb, oily, pot still flourish. Pure, precise and long. Whiskey with the structure of a fine wine. 46% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Best Irish Blended Whiskey / World Whisky Awards 2018![James E. Pepper 1776 100 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)]()
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James E. Pepper 1776 100 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 50%Produced from a mash of approximately 62% corn and malted barley, and 38% rye and bottled non chill-filtered. Rich burnished gold / brass appearance with some minor particulate matter floating in the glass. Opening aroma exudes a superb medley of pine cone, roasted nut, melted butter and vanilla cream. Second pass shifts the focus to grilled corn and fresh sawn American oak; hints of cherry glace too, while avoiding being overly sweet. Wonderful complexity. Expands slowly through the mouth as gentle spices tingle the tongue; an off-dry, oily surge trails into light vanilla wafer biscuit, balanced by firmer, spicy rye flavours. Exceptional length. Glides into the finish with a delicate cascade of sugars and sweet oak. Ends poised, confident, vibrant and long as the sweet undercurrent lingers. Outstanding. 50% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Beautiful old school Bourbon. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
Double Gold at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey (700ml)Dublin, IRELAND$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenABV: 46%Closure: Screw CapA Classic In The Making Jamesons super premium 'Vintage Reserve' comprises of the distilleries oldest and rarest stocks, these components being grain whiskey aged 23-24 years and a slightly younger pot still element of malted and unmalted barley. Maturation of these constituents occur in various cask types, including ruby port and ex-bourbon barrels.
Reviews on the web suggest this to be one of the greatest Irish whiskies ever created!
Other Reviews...
...This is truly great whiskey, among the pantheon of the world's finest.
96 Points - Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2011
Click here to learn more about Irish Whiskey![75272542000_1.jpg]()
Kirin Fuji Sanroku 18 Year Old Small Batch 2018 Release Blended Japanese Whisky (700ml)JAPAN$799. 00Bottle$9588.00 DozenABV: 43%A winner at the World Whisky Awards in 2018, these annual 'small batch' releases from Kirin have become the pride of the distillery and are now quite sought after. For the 2018 bottling the composition isn't stated, however around 10% of the malt content is reported to be at least twenty years old. Other reviews... A little joy from Mount Fuji: soy sauce, five-spice powder, grilled pineapple, halved passion fruit, and the umami sensation of slightly salty umeboshi. It’s dense and mouth-coating, with maple syrup, cinnamon, and a steady build of rye spices, particularly nutmeg and clove, before closing off with dark baked orange. The spices are short lasting, but the pleasurably deep boiled orange candy sweetness persists for minutes.
90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2018) A really well-made whisky which is perfectly balanced. Notes of vanilla and hazelnut on the palate that give way to a long, winey finish.
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Laphroaig An Cuan Mor Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 48%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not shown.
95 points and Runner up for Best Single Malt of the Year (No Age Statement) in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016!
'An Cuan Mor' (Gaelic for 'big ocean') is another Travel Retail bottling of Laphroaig, aged in first-fill x- bourbon barrels and finished in European oak. Reports have it that this is essentially 18 Year Old Laphroaig finished in Sherry casks. Regardless, it's one of the best Laphroaigs of recent times.
Travel Retail Exclusive. Very limited stocks.
Tasting note: Flawless bright amber gold. Initial inspection detects thick choc-fudge and elastoplast followed by hints of menthol tobacco. Second pass releases beeswax, lanolin and cocoa laced malt. Further aeration accents dark chocolate with hints of dried fig and cough lozenge. Outstanding balance; the sheer purity of the distillate shines through. Creamy textured, delicately peppery, sooty-yet-fruity delivery followed by an impossibly wound up, oily yet fresh, salty, tangy, smoked-lemon-mousse finale that's hard to get your head around. Prolonged aftertaste with hints of struck match, menthol tobacco, cocoa and dried fruits in the fade. Brilliant. Non chill-filtered. 48% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Kentucky, Islay & Jerez merge with breathtaking ease and harmony.
95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016![55822582_1.jpg]()
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Laphroaig PX Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)Islay, SCOTLANDReduced from $199.00$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 48%"Unquestionably one of the great malts of the year...in spite of itself". - Jim Murray
Tasting note: Deep gold / brass. Muted at first; builds with a PX top note almost overwhelming the expected distillery aromas; if only momentarily. Brandy soaked raisins and dark chocolate amid flashes of sweet peat and pepper. Three to four minutes exposure draws out smouldering cedar, cigar box and hints of elastoplast, accenting fruit cake in later inspections. Terrific balance in the sweet, smokey-malt mid palate; vanilla and Christmas cake add richness to the finish. Concludes prolonged and lozenge-like with Laphroaig's trademark medicinal edge and pepperiness breaking through late, finally checked by the sherry. Big PX influence here but deftly handled - think of it as drunken Christmas pudding, Islay-style. 48% Alc./Vol.
Normally travel retail exclusive. Extremely limited stocks.
Other reviews... This ultra sweet wine is often paired with smokey malt, often with disastrous consequences. Here it has worked, but only because the PX has been controlled itself by absolutely outstanding oak. And the ability of the smoke to take on several roles and personas simultaneously. A quite beautiful whisky and unquestionably one of the great malts of the year...in spite of itself.
96 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2015![MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)]()
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MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLANDReduced from $250.00$170. 00Bottle$2040.00 DozenABV: 48%Winner of World's Best Blended Malt at the 2020 World Whisky Awards.
A marriage of single malts from Islay and Speyside, thus combining both peated and unpeated spirit to create a balanced and complex malt. The recipe, concocted by industry veteran and Master Distiller / Blender of the Year, Billy Walker, includes well-aged GlenAllachie single malt. The small batch expression was matured to perfection at Glenallachie in a combination of Oloroso sherry, red wine and virgin oak casks sourced from around the globe. The result is bottled without added colouring or chill-filtration, and is reported to be brimming with dark chocolate, vanilla fudge, and cinnamon buns, all with gentle peat undertones. Since its release, this vatted beauty has scooped a host of enviable awards including World’s Best Blended Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2020), Best Blended Malt Scotch (San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2021) and Master (Scotch Whisky Masters, 2021). Very limited stocks. 48% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Bold, flavorsome smoke exudes from the glass of this new blend, mingled with a zesty citrus sweetness, vanilla, and an extra blast of peppery smoke when you delve deeper. It’s mouth-drawing on the palate, with caramel, marmalade, and vanilla sponge cake, getting tangier as the spices kick in, before a conclusion of spice, smoke, chocolate, burnt butter, and stewed fruits. Perfect for outdoor drinking in the colder months. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick 2021
...A wild malt tamed it seems to me and certainly not lacking in personality. 91 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
Notes from the producers... NOSE: Subtle peat smoke, dark chocolate shavings, runny honey, and vanilla fudge. TASTE: Old leather, cedar wood and gentle undertones of peat, alongside oodles of cocoa, vanilla pods, and sweet spices.
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Nikka Pure Malt Black Blended Malt Japanese Whisky (500ml)Hokkaido, JAPAN$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 43%Whisky is big business in Japan with Scotch whisky being especially popular, yet with their own history of brewing and sake production, it's only logical that the Japanese are now making whisky too. What began as a conscious imitation of Scotch, now has a style all of its own, and since commercial production began in the early 20th century, the quality has been steadily improving.
Today, most of the malt whisky produced in Japan is for blending but Japanese distillers generally don't trade casks in the manner that Scottish distillers do. Consequently, it's up to each distillery to produce a diversity of styles that will form the base components of 'house blends' that offer unique and complex flavour profiles. Some Japanese blends will even include a percentage of Scotch whisky, rather than whisky from rival local distillers. This jealous reluctance to exchange is considered one of the major obstacles holding the industry back from the prominence it deserves: In a number of blind tastings recently organised by Whisky Magazine, which have included Japanese single malts in the lineup along with malts from distilleries considered to be among the best in Scotland, on more than one occasion, the results have had Japanese single malts scoring higher than their Scotch counterparts.
After a long absence from the Australian market, we've finally managed to secure some world class Japanese whiskies from the Nikka distillery, Japan’s second largest whisky producer after Suntory. Now owned by the brewer Asahi, the company was originally set up by Masataka Taketsuru, who built Yoichi distillery in 1934, having previously spent two years studying the art of distilling in Scotland. (He also developed the now famous 'Yamazaki' distillery in Kyoto for Suntory which he managed for ten years). Nikka's range of blended, pure malt and single malt whiskies will be exciting new discoveries for any Whisky enthusiast.
'...if anyone can show me a better balanced whisky than this you know where to get hold of me. You open a bottle of this at your peril'. 95 points. - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016.
Tasting note: A number of Nikka malt whiskies are now available...and tend to be quite peaty and traditionally Scottish in style. ‘Black’ is nutty and malty on the nose, with developing peat and a hint of ginger. In the mouth this is initially fresh and fruity – Spangles sweets, followed by subtle peat, toffee and spicy oak. The finish is lingering, sappy, peaty, and with pleasing fragrant notes. All in all, a beautifully crafted whisky. 43.0% Alc./Vol., - www.whisky-pages.com* Due to relatively small production runs tasting notes will vary depending on lot number bottling.![156015610544_1.jpg]()
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Nikka 12 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky (700ml)JAPAN$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 43%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
The kind of masterful blend that puts many a Scot to shame.
In an industry where brands can (and often do) combine malts from Scotland, Master Blender, Tadashi Sakuma forgoes input from the Nikka owned Ben Nevis distillery, creating an assemblage that honours all that's great about Japanese blends – or blended whisky full stop. Deftly balancing Miyagikyo (light & elegant) and Yoichi (more robust) pot still malts with a judicious splash of sweet Coffey grain, from the very first sniff, you can tell you're onto something special.
Launched in 2014 as a national exclusive to celebrate Nikka’s 80th anniversary, as one of the few affordable Japanese age statements to emerge in years, this will grab the attention of drinkers as much as collectors, offering a compelling alternative to Suntory's equivalent: If you buy Hibiki 12 year old at $700 but ignore this, frankly, we don’t know what to say.
Awarded Best Japanese Blended Whisky 12 Years and Under in 2015 and Best Blended 12 Year old at the 2016 World Whisky Awards, following through in 2017 with a Gold Award at the International Spirits Challenge, this superb effort comes suitably presented in a heavy-set decanter topped by a large wooden stopper. The asymmetrical bottle inspired by the neck of a “Kimono” is decorated with the same emblem designed by Masataka Taketsuru for his very first Nikka whisky.
Tasting note: Deep polished brass. Opening sniffs are fresh, zesty, becoming floral soft with poached pear and apple, developing beeswax, cocoa and sweet spices, in particular cinnamon and nutmeg. A blend of poise and presence, marrying mature depth with the vibrancy of youth. Also surprisingly intense. Entry is medium dry, evolving with sweeter malt and honeyed fruits (apple, pear) framed by lively spices. Miyagikyo's delicate, fruity notes are wonderfully woven into the sweeter grains through the finish. Pepper warmth and oaky freshness lingers. Beautifully structured. The kind of masterful blend that puts many a Scot to shame. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This blend is soft and quite sweet, with low levels of spice and that characteristic Nikka richness behind, a classic fist in a velvet glove. Ripe, round, and generous, there’s cocoa and butterscotch, with plenty of persimmon and nutmeg. Lush, round, and balanced; a classic Japanese blend. This will become the core blend in the range. 85 points
- whiskyadvocate.com, Dave Broom (Winter 2014)...most importantly, the quality is superb. We got an advance sample and it really is a great sipping whisky. On the nose, the presence of the Coffey grain is immediately clear (with notes of roast coconut flakes and banana leaves), but it’s balanced with orchard fruits (green apples and pears) supplied by the Miyagikyo malt and a slight whiff of peat from the Yoichi malt. On the palate (it’s bottled at 43% abv, by the way), you get annin dofu, orchard fruits again, barley sugar and a touch of white pepper. The finish is medium-long on Oreo cookies and shortbread with a bit of grapefruit peel and some spice thrown in the mix. - nonjatta.com
Awarded Best Japanese Blended Whisky 12 Years and Under 2015 and Best Blended 12 Year old 2016 at the World Whisky Awards.
Gold International Spirits Challenge 2017
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- Nick's Import
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 21 Year Old Blended Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml) - Wooden Gift BoxHokkaido, JAPAN$1299. 00Bottle$15588.00 DozenABV: 43%Note: Box has come from a private collection and as such has some light creasing/scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured. This one, in particular, has small bits of wood missing from the inner railing. Outside of box not affected.
DISCONTINUED.
Following Suntory's lead, Nikka has discontinued its lines of extra-aged whiskies, with some reports that the shortage could last up to a decade before the taps are turned back on.
Nikka's range of blended, pure malt and single malt whiskies will be exciting new discoveries for any Whisky enthusiast. This 21 Year Old bottling is dedicated to the Father of the Japanese Whisky Industry, Masataka Taketsuru.
The tale of Masataka Taketsuru's life is of the same fabric legends are made of. Sent in 1918 as a young apprentice to Scotland by his Japanese employers to crack the secrets of whisky, he not only came back with that knowledge but also with Rita Taketsuru (nee Cowan), who went on playing a decisive role in the development of the Japanese Whisky industry. Thanks to her connection to Japanese high society, Masataka was able to finance the company that is now known as Nikka Whisky.This blend of malts is from the two Nikka distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
Other reviews... A much more civilised and gracious offering than the 17 year old...Serious whisky for the serious whisky drinker. 88 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2014
World's Best Blended Malt Whisky at the 2010 World Whiskies Awards.
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Old Pulteney 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 46%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Discontinued in 2017, remaining stocks of the 17 YO were expected to hold out until mid 2018. Now mostly sold out in the UK, we expect this will be your last chance to secure this gorgeous whisky.
Tasting notes: [2011] [from a bottle one third full] A marked improvement on our last tasting with none of the frustrating sulphury notes evident but the complexity retained. The nose has the same beguiling, chamelion like quality. Some sweet Sherry influence at first? Now definitely fruity with an amazing burst of peppermint. The fruit / mint interplay continues with time in the glass but then more oatmeal / biscuity malt emerges. A medium to full bodied palate, pleasantly spicy, with a delicious, restrained sweet fruit burst. Stays focused and dry through the finish. Perfect balance. Spices persist into the lengthy pear, vanilla aftertaste - and not a trace of sulphur. Stands in the shadow of the 21YO, but during our tasting many considered it equal to or better than the whisky of the year. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews: (95 Points) - (n22) Tight, but does all that is possible to reveal its salty, fruity complexity with pears and lemons to the fore; (t25) one of the softest, most beautifully crafted deliveries in the whisky world. Absolutely faultless as it picks the most fabulous course among the honeyed vanilla and barley which is so delicate, words cannot do it justice; (f24) near perfect balance between the vanillas and delicate honeys (b24) the nose confirms that some of the casks at work here are not A1. Even so, the whisky performs to the kind of levels some distilleries could only dream of. - Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2013
Awarded: 'Best Single Malt Aged 16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013
Established in 1826 in Wick, Pulteney was until 2013, the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, and in its early days, accessible only by sea. The barley was brought in by boat, the whisky shipped out and many of the distillery workers were also employed as fishermen. Sadly the herring fishing industry is no longer part of daily life in Wick. Gone are the days when one could walk from pier to pier with dry feet, crossing on the decks of a Herring armada and barrels of silver (Herring) accompanied barrels of gold (Whisky).
Pulteney Distillery continues to operate with its unique wash still (legend has it the goose neck was cut off by the distillery manager when the newly delivered still was too tall to fit in the building), now part of the Inverhouse group. The heritage of Wick is strongly portrayed in the presentation of Old Pulteney, with its distinctive, still shaped bottle, screen printed with a traditional Wick herring drifter. The latest release of the 17 year old is a non chill-fitered, ex-Bourbon expression, with a dash of PX and Oloroso matured spirit that adds complexity. Shy at first, it is a whisky that rewards those who contemplate and savor their dram patiently.
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Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$165. 00Bottle$1980.00 DozenABV: 55%Whether you’re a straight rye whiskey fan or simply love the unique flavour it adds to cocktails like the Manhattan or Old-Fashioned, this 110-proof, six-year-old powerhouse will take your pleasure to new heights.
Tasting note: A much anticipated release that lives up to the hype. Piercing, peppery rye aromas with a minty edge that doesn't give up. Continues to develop over several minutes with unripe granny-smith and peppermint followed by grainy accents of white rye and finally, sweeter vanillas peeking through. Text book, fat, oily rye delivery with the controlled spices tempered by fresh oak. Finishes applemint-like, vibrant, chewy, sustained. Brilliantly done. 55% Alc./Vol.Other reviews... "one of the aromas of the year... after that nose, the delivery just had to be majestic. And it is... those wonderful, bustling, fizzing spices... The most stunning of ryes and the best from Heaven Hill for some time.
97.5 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2016Double Gold at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
...Heaven Hill’s 80-proof standard Pikesville is a summer favorite, so I was eager to try this. A woody depth to it at 6 years old: 110 proof-hot, stewed plum and horehound candy, and sizzling rye spice behind it. It's a jawbreaker: full and hot in the mouth, with sweet grassy spice, bitter rye grain as it progresses, and crackling sugar near the end, just before it all smooths into a savory layered finish. Exciting ride, great ending. 89 points - www.maltadvocate.com, (Fall 2015) Reviewed by: Lew Bryson
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2017 Sazerac 18 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 45%New from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), the annual portfolio that sets the bar for others to follow... In 2017, it seems the rye whiskeys star, with the Sazerac 18 widely revered as one of the best examples money can buy. We have one bottle only of the highly praised Summer 2017 release available. Other reviews... Brilliant! What else do you expect from a Sazerac 18?
96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019 ...Ah, the pleasant aroma of warm rye rolls nails its opening, but so much more awaits. Balsam, peppercorn, almond butter, arrowroot pie crust, pine nuts, pumpkin pie, brown sugar, and savory toasted rye bread tingle, as slight hints of pear, tobacco, and citrus develop. Then, it’s earth, from sautéed mushrooms to soil. The long, strong finish presents baking spices. Lovely sipping rye!
92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Winter 2017)![1027457_1.jpg]()
Sullivans Cove Single Cask French Oak Single Malt Whisky (700ml) - Old PackagingTasmania, AUSTRALIA$1099. 00Bottle$13188.00 DozenABV: 47.5%Note: Barrel numbers will vary and will not necessarily be the same as the tasting note below. This has come from a private collection and as such will show some bruising, scuffing and/or scratching to the box from handling over time. Bottle condition is excellent.
A distillery that requires no introduction, as the world continues to fight for their supply of Sullivans Cove whisky of any description. Surprisingly, this has not only affected the winning style, but the entire range! Take a step back 5+ years ago and It's evident how far these whiskies have come to arrive at its present status on the world stage. Our last tasting of these releases marked a welcome departure from many previous expressions that were frequently sabotaged by hessian bag, burnt rubber and/or sulphur-like notes. All three bottlings (Double Wood, American Oak Single Cask and French Oak Single Cask) are clean, complex and come highly recommended. Australia's first iconic whisky on the world stage.
Tasting note (Barrel HH043): Deep gold, brass appearance. Plenty of cinnamon and clove at first before some honeyed cereals enter. Sways towards fruit and nut chocolate after time in the glass, while remaining slightly more restrained than the other Sullivan Cove whiskies.A light, soft entry follows through to a soft, round, semi sweet mid palate with lively spices and subtle notes of fruit and nut chocolate plus cinnamon on the finish. Excellent balance. Concludes with hints of cocoa, drying into the lengthy aftertaste with a trace of marzipan / hessian sack at the fade. (93 Points) 47.5% Alc./Vol.
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- Limit One per customer
The Glenturret 2022 Release Triple Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 45%Rated 99 points and judged the world's top single malt Scotch whisky at the 2023 International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC).
At the time of writing, Glenturret's 2022 Triple Wood is arguably the hottest whisky on the shelves and for once, a world-beating prize winner that even the most casual drinker can afford. If global availability is any indicator, there won't be enough to satisfy demand. That's mostly due to its incredible price point.
Matured in European and American oak ex-sherry casks, as well as ex-bourbon casks, the combination builds on the distinctive fruity flavours of the distillery's new make. The IWSC judges described the whisky as exhibiting "A summer Turkish delight of sweet raisin, marmalade and orange blossom aromas with a rich fruitcake palate, hints of brown sugar and honey, with a creamy toffee texture on the finish." It was the only Scotch entry to get the near-perfect rating of 99 points. Despite the fact that Glenturret is the oldest working distillery in Scotland, single malt bottlings have been rare. In 2020 it was sold by the large corporate spirits group Edrington to the French luxury lifestyle company, Lilaque Group, together with one of its largest shareholders. Lilaque are, of course, the famous crystal makers located in the north of Alsace - which explains the extravagant decanters. They've recruited none other than former Macallan colleague, Bob Dalgarno as Master Blender with Ken Grier as a strategic consultant. No doubt that has some bearing on their recent success. 45% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The whisky is quite floral. The Sherry influence is noticeable on the nose and the palate in the fruitcake flavors of dried fruits and nuts. I also find that the Triple Wood has a pronounced stone fruit character of peach, a bit of dried apricot, and some apple. It’s spicy, with cinnamon, allspice, and candied ginger notes. The whisky also exhibits lingering chocolate and coffee notes, especially on the finish. The Glenturret Triple Wood is a very complex and layered whisky. Although it is quite fruity, offering flavors ranging from orchard to tropical fruits, a trademark of Glenturret, it also offers some herbal tobacco leaves and cooked vegetable notes. There are also very slight smoky notes. The sweetness is somewhat candied, more cotton candy than honey. As the whisky opens up, pronounced cooked cereal notes emerge. There is a lot going on in the glass, and each sip will likely yield a new flavor perspective on the whisky...the Glenturret Triple Wood represents an exceptional value. It’s unusual to find such a complex, layered, nuanced whisky at an attractive price. If the aroma and flavor profile is appealing, grab a couple of bottles immediately. There isn’t much in circulation, and what is available will likely disappear from store shelves very quickly. - Forbes Magazine
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The New Zealand Whisky Collection South Island 21 Year Old Single Malt New Zealand Whisky (700ml)Dunedin, NEW ZEALANDReduced from $599.00$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 40%"Proof that the country in which a whisky is made is totally irrelevant...Great whisky is great whisky".
Distilled at the famous Willowbank Distillery in Dunedin in the south of New Zealand. The Willowbank Distillery was opened by the Baker family in 1974 after approaches to the New Zealand government allowed more favourable regulations. The Bakers commenced distilling whiskies and marketed blends including Wilsons and 45 South. The large Canadian multi-national, Seagrams improved the still and processes after purchasing the distillery in the 1980's, marketing the Single Malts as 'Lammerlaw', named after a nearby mountain range, the source of the pure water from which the whisky was created. Production ceased in 1997 as Seagrams rationalised their world wide business and the operation was sold to Fosters who mothballed the company in 2000, and sent the silent stills to Fiji to make rum. The New Zealand whisky company purchased the last 600 barrels of mainly Lammerlaw malt and the whisky has been maturing in the towering seaside bondstore in Oamaru's famous heritage precinct ever since. This is the company's flagship Single Malt Whisky marking the re-birth of Single Malt Whisky for the New Zealand Whisky company. Maturation took place in ex-bourbon barrels. Other reviews... If someone asked me how I would like my 21 Year Old non peated malt to come to me, it would probably be something like this... Proof that the country in which a whisky is made is totally irrelevant...Great whisky is great whisky. End of.... 95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2014 ...This is fine as far as it goes—until you see the price tag. Nor is it as good as the Rugby World Cup 16 year old Vindication bottling. 81 points - www.maltadvocate.com (Vol. 21, #3) Reviewed by: Dominic Roskrow![1026059_1.jpg]()
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Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof 2010 Release 126.9 Proof (63.45%) Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 63.45%If the whiskey world has anything that comes close to the kind of hysteria certain wines generate in mature adults, this is it: Five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs simply known as 'The Antique Collection'. Introduced more than a decade ago these whiskeys have become a cult favourite and since 2000 have garnered a swathe of awards from such notable publications as Whisky Advocate Magazine, Spirit Journal and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
It is rare to find these outside the U.S., but we make an effort to secure some every year for those Australian enthusiasts looking for the most incendinary whisky sensations on the planet. For those new to them, tasting the latest collection will be an achingly intense, over the top, high octane experience some whiskey lovers may never repeat. To others they will be a revelation - a compelling combination of heady aroma, extraordinary weight and overwhelming complexity that puts these American distillates into a category of their own.
Understandably, $300 / bottle will be beyond the pail for many. Yet on a world scale they remain relative bargains for spirits that have been universally acclaimed as some of the world's best, year in year out. If you need reassuring, we suggest you invest in a bottle of Eagle Rare 10 YO to find out just what Buffalo Trace are capable of at the entry level. Get together with a friend if need be, share a bottle (these are exceptionally high proof), take the plunge from there but be warned - these whiskies will be destroyers of complacency for regular American devotees - but then, life is like that.
“Every year the excitement and anticipation of these whiskeys grows,” says Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “We’re excited as well to finally be able to share them, and look forward to seeing what critics and consumers alike think about them.”
Other Reviews: (95.5 Points) - (n24) angular,crystal,cut-glass molasses, sharpened further by a glint of muscovado; but really this is the clovesl show. As the nose opens, the cloves intensify dramatically and alluringly, sweetened along the way by kumquat; (t23.5)grips the palate like a lion clings to a wildebeast by the throat: big vanilla trail and natural toffees. Takes little time for the fruitier sharper rye aspects to surface which are as salivating as they are delicious; (f24) a long, luxurious fade with a seemingly endless supply of oils and cocao; (b24) ...just a little short of the complexity of its twin (2009 release) for sure, but offering more than enought to dazzle and seduce. - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2012
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Westland American Oak Single Malt American Whiskey (700ml)Washington State, UNITED STATES$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%This is the flagship expression of Westland's American Single Malt Whiskey, aimed at expressing a "house style". Made from a mash bill of five different roasted and kilned barley malts, with the base being a pale malt grown in the state of Washington, a Belgian brewer's yeast introduces fruity esters during fermentation. Finally, maturing predominantly in the finest new American oak casks complements Master Distiller, Matt Hofmann's other choices contributing vanilla, caramel and coconut notes. Tasting note: Bright deep brassy gold. Shy at first but builds with aromas of new-sawn American oak, biscuity malt, sweet spices (cinnamon / clove / vanilla) and in later passes an understated fresh-fruity edge. Beautifully rounded in the mouth, and with attractive sweet / dry balance. Mid-palate features fresh oak and hints of apple tart. Finish peaks with American oak input dovetailing with the brittle malt; there's vanilla, caramel and cocoa but the sugars are kept in check. Tremendous staying power. It's the ease with which this unfolds that sets it apart. Very polished. 46% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Amber color. Rich, fruity, inviting aromas of granola, peach and pineapple cobbler, and baking spice with a silky, vibrant, fruity medium-full body and a warming, complex, long dried fruit, pepper, vanilla cola, and minerals finish. A vivacious single malt that delivers a lot of flavor and balance. 93 points - www.tastings.com ...just so salivating you don't know whether to swallow or kiss it.
95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2016 A non-age stated single malt from Washington State. Light amber in color, there’s more oak on the nose than you’d expect, along with baked apple, chocolate, cinnamon, and clove. Chocolate leads the entry, followed by clove, cinnamon, baked apple, and salt. A spicy mid-palate picks up some ginger and a dash of heat. The finish is fairly short and dry. This feels a bit young and lacks depth. An interesting start; let's see where it goes from here. 83 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Spring 2015) Reviewed by: Geoffrey Kleinman![1560165405133_1.jpg]()
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William Larue Weller Barrel Proof 2014 Release 140.2 Proof (70.1%) Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$1450. 00Bottle$17400.00 DozenABV: 70.1%William Larue Weller is the Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated bourbon. John Hansell of whiskyadvocate.com notes, "The key to bourbons that use wheat instead of rye (like this Weller), is to get the right amount of wood influence to balance the sweet notes and add depth. This whiskey does a great job of it." One only to sell. Other reviews... Just one of those whiskeys that makes sense of life...
97 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2017 Distilled in 2002. For many years now, this wheated whiskey has maintained just the right amount of oak influence for balance and added complexity. This year’s release is sporting some extra dried oak spice (especially on the finish), but it’s still a delicious whiskey. Notes of toffee, maple syrup, blackberry jam, cinnamon, and vanilla, with a dry, allspice and polished leather finish.
91 points - Reviewed by: John Hansell (Winter 2014), www.maltadvocate.com![154351544_1.jpg]()
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Zuidam Distillers Millstone 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt Dutch Whisky (700ml)NETHERLANDS$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 46%"...this is Premier League, a world class sherried 12 year old that matches many sherried Scotch whiskies flavor to flavor. That's a first for Europe". - whiskyadvocate.com
The Zuidam Distillery was started back in 1975 by Fred van Zuidam as a deliberately contained operation with one small copper still. It took more than a decade to forge their present reputation as the finest distillery in the Netherlands. In 1989 Zuidam expanded their warehouse to 600 square meters and one production line. Presently, both sons, Patrick and Gilbert, run the distillery under the watchful eyes of their parents. With four brand new copper stills, over 1000 oak barrels, four production lines and modern tank storage, Zuidam is now a state of the art operation, however, they have held on to one throwback from the past - Windmills. These are used to mill the malted barley destined for their Malt Whisky. It not only preserves this iconic piece of Dutch heritage, but more importantly, the producers believe that the traditional slow grind causes almost no increase in the temperature of the barley and thus helps preserve the grain's wonderful aromas.
As with many Australian distilleries, the whisky at Zuidam is aged in small barrels - typically American white oak as well as barrels that have previously held Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry. Because they use only new and/or once used barrels, and they store the barrels in a warm warehouse, the whisky ages rather quickl
Tasting note: Deep amber / gold. Butter menthol / barley sugar lozenge in the opening pass. Vaguely grassy? Wafer biscuit? Three or four minutes draws out a sweet spot as the Sherry blossoms and finally you get it: Pure, elegant, nutty malt delivered with a soft touch. The sophisticated restraint continues in the mouth, being fresh rather than sweet, middle weighted, with a nutty, dried fruit, almond biscotti kind of profile, and gorgeous feathery spices fanning out the finish. Vanilla and fruit cake dissolve in the fade. Deceptively long. Beautiful whisky. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Near perfect on the sweet-dry balance; fresh lively grape, slowly infiltrated by much heavier and drier tannins....Decidedly raisin shortcake biscuit on the finale; after last year's disappointing sherry bottling, thought I'd need some Dutch courage to tackle this one. But, instead, an excellent cask at work here which ensures an overflow of character. Just underlines the difference between putting a good quality spirit into a less than impressive cask or filling into top quality oak. So, so elegant.
95 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2015...Millstone is made by Zuidam, a Dutch spirits and liquor company that prides itself on never cutting corners and in using the very finest ingredients. There are hundreds of European distilleries making spirit, but few this good. Its malt and rye whiskies have always been special, but this is Premier League, a world class sherried 12 year old that matches many sherried Scotch whiskies flavor to flavor. That's a first for Europe. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com (Spring 2013) Reviewed by: Dominic Roskrow
Awarded “World Whisky of the year” by Whisky Advocate Magazine in the USA 2013.
[1999 distillation] ...I liked Millstone’s rye very much. Now, how a 1999/2013 could become a 12 years old, I don’t quite know - but we've seen that done elsewhere (at Balvenie, for example). Colour: dark gold. Nose: ho-ho! This one does not nose like any unlikely ‘foreign’ malt, it’s as high in fruits as one of the best Benriachs or Littlemills, if that says something to you. Very impressive, everything is just perfect in this nose, the milk chocolate, the pink grapefruits, the passion fruits, the golden raisins, the touches of cappuccino, the very elegant maltiness... Mouth: oh yes! I’m speechless, I knew of Zuidam but only by name, I just didn’t know that they were making ‘Scotch-like’ wonders. Prejudices prejudices… A great fruit salad with apples and oranges first, then mangos, bananas and many other fruits. Finish: long, fresh, clean, just a tad yeastier. Pencil shavings in the aftertaste. Comments: had I tried this blind, I’d have said ‘it’s an unusual Littlemill’. Only the finish was a little less to my liking. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
