4614 products

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Welcome to the largest range of Single Malt Scotch Whisky in Australia. Nicks Wine Merchants go further than any other whisky retailer dealing with hundreds of suppliers, both locally and overseas in order to offer you the most eclectic selection as well as some of the very best prices in Single Malt Scotch in Australia today. We cover official distillery bottlings, independents, antiques and collectables as well as many lines otherwise only available via duty free, all shipped to most areas of Australia. We also taste and rate many of the whiskies and/or include third party reviews to guide you further in your purchase. Click here to learn more about Scotch Whisky. Subscribe to our Spirits and Liqueurs Email Newsletter to keep up to date with new arrivals, whisky tastings, special offers and more.

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2011 Ardbeg Single Cask No.2198 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1999. 00
Bottle
$23988.00 Dozen

ABV: 60.2%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Single cask Ardbegs offer amplified distillery character. They're highly desirable but rarely surface. This particular release was distilled in August 2011 and left to age in a first-fill bourbon barrel for six years before bottling at cask strength in July 2018 with an outturn of 256 bottles. 60.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.

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Ardbeg Anthology The Harpy's Tale Very Rare 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The inaugural release in Ardbeg's new series.
Noteworthy as a more affordable Ardbeg and with a proper age statement, the Harpy's Tale is the first whisky in the distillery’s new Anthology collection that focuses on unusual maturation styles. For this edition, it's a smoky-sweet hybrid marrying single malts matured in Sauternes wine casks with Ardbeg aged in x-bourbon wood. Sauternes casks are not common on Islay, though they have been used by Kilchoman and Bunnahabhain, amongst others. Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said, “We have embarked on a bold maturation experiment to fuse Ardbeg’s signature smokiness with more nuanced, sweeter notes for our new release... This is a dram that represents a battle between sweet and smoke – one I believe fans are yet to experience in an Ardbeg dram, and one that I’m sure they will be excited to taste for themselves. Collectively, the whiskies in the Anthology Collection will form a legendary, perfectly balanced and delicious series of rare and unusual Ardbegs, rich in both lore and taste. We look forward to revealing more in the Collection in the near future.”
The naming pays homage to the mixing of styles; in Greek and Roman mythology a harpy is half-human, half-bird. Ardbeg's marketing team have done another nice job extending the theme to the packaging with a striking design. 46% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... With The Harpy’s Tale, Ardbeg has crafted another winner, though — huge caveat — fans of heavier, peat-forward Ardbeg whiskies will not likely be pleased. The nose isn’t immediately distinct, offering a fairly traditional chimney soot profile with quite a slug of camphor in the mix. While lightly minty, with some barrel char notes showing, there’s no evidence of the Sauternes cask on the nose, which is a slight letdown. That changes on the palate. Here, the whisky immediately showcases a much softer side, with notes of green table grapes, coconut water, and lemon curd — all informed by a rather gentle layer of smoke. Notes of grapefruit peel lead into an increasingly bright finish that evokes the honeyed, apricot-laced quality endemic to Sauternes. Mildly sweet but not overblown, there’s a suggestion of chocolate and even a touch of coffee bean on the finish, making for a complex but completely effusive and enjoyable experience. Definitely a whisky I’d love to explore in more depth. - drinkhacker.com
"On the nose, find earthy smoke, brine, salt spray, and iodine, backed by toffee chews. The palate moves into a sweeter and fruitier direction, with dark chocolate covered raspberries, strawberry Jolly Ranchers, honey, and treacle. The finish is short, and offers molasses, furniture polish, peppermint, peat, prunes, allspice, and oak." 89 points - distiller.com
Notes from the producers... Smoked lemon peel soars alongside balsamic vinegar, before fresh apricots roll and bank into notes of tarry rope. First imagined only as a flight of fantasy, this is a spirit that achieves the ultimate equilibrium between sweetness and smoke. A rare beast Ardbeg indeed…

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Ardbeg BizarreBQ Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50.9%

The consensus on the bloggersphere is that this is one gimmicky Ardbeg that actually works! You start with a hare-brained idea, you bring together three unique casks, two masters in their own right, and a whole lot of heat and smoke… what do you get? You get Ardbeg’s first ever barbecue-inspired whisky. Cooked up by renowned Master Distiller, Dr Bill Lumsden, alongside bona-fide god of the grill, Christian Stevenson (AKA DJ BBQ), fire has been the vital element in creating the malt. Toasting a selection of three casks; double charred oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and BBQ casks, this combined recipe comes together to bring a sweet, tangy, smoky flavour. Collectors will love the 1930s cartoon-style label which encapsulates ‘grilling meets distilling’. Drinkers will appreciate the higher ABV - and the reasonable asking price when compared to several recent Ardbeg NAS bottlings. 50.9% ABV. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Nose: Puffs of charcoal and soot mingle with smoky wood and aromatic herbs and spices. Treacle toffee, hickory smoked ham and cinnamon-dusted espresso rise up. A splash of water releases distinctively sharp citrus aromas, along with herbal notes such as fennel and aniseed. Grilled artichokes and a suggestion of seared meat sizzles the senses. The undeniable smell of bonfire and BBQ embers lingers in the background. Palate: The mouthfeel is alive with spice, like BBQ ribs smothered in chilli. A myriad of deep, warming smoke follows close behind in flame-grilled steak, chilli oil, cured leather and clove. Ginger, aniseed and tar crackle on the palate with an aromatic woodsmoke edge. Finish: The massive, hot aftertaste lingers on and on, with more grilled artichoke, black olives and a sooty note that slowly simmers away.

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- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml) with Free Ardbeg T-shirt & Mug

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $310.00
$249. 99
Bottle
$2999.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Get a FREE Ardbeg t-shirt and mug with every order containing a Smoketrails purchase. Maximum one t-shirt and mug per order.*
The first edition in Ardbeg’s inaugural travel retail series. One litre, 46% NCF.
'Smoketrails' is the name for Ardbeg's new and first-ever collection of single malts exclusively dedicated to the travel market. Launched in late 2022 with annual batches in the pipeline, each edition will be a marriage of Ardbeg aged in American oak with Ardbeg matured in secondary casks sourced from around the world. This is the first edition, employing Manzanilla (dry) Sherry casks from Sanlúcar de Barrameda on Spain’s Atlantic coast. Light and fresh in style, Manzanilla sherries are aged close to the sea and are typically bone dry with a salty tang - well matched to Ardbeg's island profile.
Distillery Manager, Colin Gordon says, “For each Smoketrails release we’ll pack our suitcase and zig zag across the globe in search of new flavour adventures...With a unique batch code on this and future bottlings, we hope Ardbeggians will jump at the chance to get their hands on this delectable, collectable dram when they are on their travels.”
Ardbeg’s Master Distiller, Dr Bill Lumsden adds “In Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition, salty sea spray and deep, nutty notes mingle with pungent aromas of soot, dark chocolate and Brazil nuts. Clouds of pine and fennel fill the senses with notes of saddle soap and aniseed trailing gently behind. All I have to say to anybody who lays their hands on a bottle is… get ready for a smoky blast!” Available at selected airports around the globe, we've sourced a small parcel for Australian devotees who might otherwise miss out. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I've just seen that this one is still available in travel retail, for a price that's much lower than in regular shops. They were having dozens at Basel airport just last week, for example. It is a vatting of ex-American oak (Heaven Hill?) and ex-manzanilla casks. I remember some superb ex-fino Ardbeg around Feis 2005, but I'm not sure we've already tried some ex-manzanilla 'beg. But was Dr Bill's idea to add saltiness to saltiness? Let's see, while it's mentioned on the label that it should display some 'saddle soap'… Remember horses are another specialty of Jerez… Colour: straw. Nose: frankly, the territory of an (unsherried, ha) Ardbeg and that of some manzanilla are so close to each other that I'm finding this nose particularly tautological. Fresh walnuts shouting out, green apples and lemons, some chalk, a touch of mustard, sea spray, fresh almonds and chalk, then only a wee touch of mutton suet or something like that. Having said all that and while it's classic Ardbeg in my book, it is not really 'big'. Mouth: perhaps a little too much grittiness, fresh oak at first, making it bitterish (bell pepper, walnut skin), but also loads of salt, as expected. It feels young for sure. Cold ashes, lemon skin, tart cider apples, lemon jellybeans… I find it relatively simple, but Ardbeggy enough. Finish: rather long, still salty. Or, let's say it triggers a lot of saltiness. Walnuts and mustard in the aftertaste. Comments: now, what to do with a litre of this, if you've also got a bottle of the superior Ten in your cabinet? And I'm afraid I couldn't recognise any notes of saddle soap, but that is me. Don't get me wrong, it's some very good Ardbeg that we could quaff with langoustines on the shore of the Guadalquivir, in Sanlucar. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Lemon peel. Gentle smoke, not too peaty, more bonfire than medical. Some fruity notes. Taste: Sweet, toffee notes, milk chocolate, then the citric notes from the nose are coming back. Smoke is rather gentle. Finish: Long. Now reconcilable peaty, yet sweet.
*Please request your preferred t-shirt size in the Special Instructions field of the checkout. T-shirt sizes and mugs are subject to availability and we cannot guarantee we will have your size. If no t-shirt size is requested it will be selected at random.

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- 90
- Not gift boxed
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Ardbeg's latest annual offering comes with a curious title that's due to a production modification. Head of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden removed the purifier, which typically catches the heaviest vapours from the distillation process. The purifier is also responsible for Ardbeg’s balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness. The resulting whisky is "all peat". In fact, Ardbeg says that it's their most full-blown expression ever with an intensity of flavour that's unmatched. A spokesperson for the brand describes the flavour profile as, "Defined by a distinctive pungent earthiness, aromatic clouds of dark chocolate, a billow of aniseed and cinnamon, and a lingering tang of sharp peppermint." Dramface.com add "According to an interview Lumsden participated in for WhiskyCast, the experiment which gave birth to this year’s release was conducted 12 years ago. Even allowing for time of year and the time taken to dump casks, blend, package and distribute, it’s safe to assume this bottling is at least 11 years old, given that Lumsden claims the experiment was only ever conducted in one batch." We've just received our allocation. The whisky's unusual conception is brought to life with accompanying graphics created by celebrated comic artist and illustrator, Dilraj Mann.
The nose is slightly reticent while the flavour profile leans towards smokey dark chocolate, oily malt, chimney soot and white pepper followed by a dried herbal quality. The aftertaste is ashy, drying, medium long and vaguely fruity in a mezcal kind of way. Like last year's Ardbeg Day release (Ardcore), Heavy Vapours is not quite as intense or complex as anticipated, although it does taste slightly more mature and feels like the texture is amplified, particularly at the finish where cured meats and a salt'n'pepper tang recall middle-weight Caol Ilas. In a word, more elegant than "extreme". 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I don’t know enough about the role of the purifier in distillation to predict for myself how the lack of one might impact a finished whisky, but damn if I’m not willing to give it a try. So let’s sally forth. Reviewed here is the standard release at 92 proof. The Committee Release is bottled at 100.4 proof. Extremely light in color, even for Ardbeg, the whisky looks innocuous enough in the glass. The classic aroma of beach bonfire smoke of Ardbeg wafts immediately from the glass, tempered by light touches of milk chocolate, overripe fruit, and some salted caramel — though these are all difficult to parse in the wake of a moderately intense blast of peat. The palate does see a more complex complement of flavors coming into focus, including mint, a clearer tropical note — pineapples and some coconut — with plenty of ashy dustiness waiting in the wings. Strangely, all of this works together in a bizarrely compelling fashion, the peat becoming earthy and smoldering, any overt smokiness taking a back seat as fruity sweetness makes a stronger impact. A briny quality offers a surprising level of refreshment on the finish, pairing well with both fruit and lingering smokiness. For my money, this is considerably more classically balanced than the standard Ardbeg bottlings — though what exactly is meant by “balance” in the world of peated Scotch is open for interpretation. All told, this is a decidedly delicious representation of Ardbeg. I say take that purifier and throw it out, Bill! - drinkhacker.com
...More NAS and more stories. I mean, really, stories, about that purifier we keep mentioning here too, and a certain 'agent 46'.. There's a QR code on the presentation box and bottle that should have allowed us to follow that 'agent 46' but from France it seems that we're just led to the generic Ardbeg website. Anyway, this is young Ardbeg that's been distilled 'without' the purifier on, as many batches have in the past already, but this very one is supposed to be 'the most full-blown Ardbeg ever'. Let's check that now… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: very pure and feeling ultra-young, totally on mash, smoked beer, green pears, stewed turnip, creosote, petrichor and our new favourite since we've tried some in the Schwarzwald only two days ago, topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke) eau-de-vie or Schnaps, which is very rooty and earthy indeed. Mouth: excellent, if a tad rough and probably immature. More Jerusalem artichoke and turnip, smoky mashes and washes, a feinty side indeed and then certainly more fruitiness (so much for the purifier been shunted). Apples, lemon liqueur, light honey (acacia), liquorice allsorts and a drop of pastis. A moderate saltiness and notes of sweet beetroot too. Finish: pretty longer, fruity and salty. Comments: did they not just invent peated pastis? As a matter of fact, it would take a lot of water with resolve and even desire (what?) but it's not really heavy, I'd have called it 'Mizuwari Reserve' or 'Islay Pastis' instead. Do the advertising agencies taste the products? 88 points - whiskyfun.com

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Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 4

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.2%

Released in early 2022 but only recently landed in Australia, the highly allocated Traigh Bhan Batch TB/04-07.03.2003/22.CG continues a running theme, with a lengthy maturation in a combination of American oak and oloroso sherry casks - although the proportion of the latter is slightly increased in this edition. Bottled in much smaller quantities than the rest of the core range "under a full moon", as noted on the front label, it arrives non chill filtered at 46.2% Alc./Vol.
Traigh Bhan is now firmly in collector-land. Consequently, few tasting notes are available. If you're looking to add to your collection or just want to find out what well-aged Ardbeg tastes like, don't hesitate on this offer. For those new to the label, the name is a reference to the local Traigh Bhan beach on Islay, which is known as the 'Singing Sands'. Each batch is intended to be slightly different from the last due to minor changes in cask selection. Expect rich wood smoke and menthol alongside bolder flavours of cayenne pepper and aniseed.
Notes from the producers... NOSE: On the nose, rising aromas of herbal pine and fennel flow into sharp notes of citrusy lime sorbet and medicinal lozenge, while eucalyptus and saddle soap follow on the breeze. A splash of water releases a cascade of hazelnut, sweet vanilla, and currants, before rich minted chocolate brings the nose to a close. TASTE: An intense wave of wood smoke crashes over the palate, leaving ripples of decadent dark chocolate and ground coffee in its wake. Sweeter notes of lemon curd and peanut brittle cut through the swell to reveal delicate hints of creamy raisin fudge and hazelnut. The allure of this rare dram continues with suggestions of more medicinal, spicy notes. Menthol, fresh lemongrass, aniseed, clove and white pepper emerge from rich, smoky depths. FINISH: Sweet and peat collide with creamy vanilla fudge, dark cocoa powder, and a warm, woody clove tingle. A sharp, intense, and satisfyingly long finish.

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- 92
- 84
Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 51.8%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some light creasing/scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Other reviews... Fully matured in rye barrels. Butterscotch, almond paste, shortbread, lemon cake, and vanilla frosting on the nose—bakery aromas integrating with notes of crushed seashells and briny peat. The palate is soft, honeyed, and sweet, offering flavors of candied orange slices, iced tea, chocolate, and sugared espresso as a more pronounced peat influence emerges. A lengthy finish, as the peat drifts into the background, leaving a delicious pot of honey, candied fruit, and dark chocolate. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming 2021

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Ardbeg Hypernova 2022 Committee Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 51%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

A logical progression to the Supernova series that ran from 2009-2019, Hypernova is Ardbeg's peatiest expression to date. Sporting phenol levels in excess of 170 ppm, expect nothing less than a peat bomb. It's also another exclusive to the Ardbeg Committee (the distillery’s fan club) as well as Ardbeg Embassies around the globe - of which Nicks Wine Merchants are one.
“This is without a doubt the smokiest Ardbeg ever,” said Dr. Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg director of distilling and whisky creation. “We wanted to really push the boundaries this time and boldly go where Ardbeg has never ventured before. A hypernova is a collapsing star explosion so powerful it threatens the fabric of the galaxy – while I don’t think this whisky will tear a hole in space and time, it’s certainly bursting with fantastically peaty flavour.” Bottled at 51% ABV, official tasting notes are below.
Notes from the producers... Color: Pale Straw. Aroma: Powerful, pungent, almost brutal in its intensity, with waves of tar, smoke, sea salt and an almost ‘barnyard’ aroma in the background. There is some restrained fruitiness, reminiscent of flowering blackcurrants, and very pungent burst of peppermint. Water releases some more rounded top notes, with a touch of lavender and a chocolaty sensation, before finally returning to the curious, savoury barnyard smell. Taste: An explosive, peppery mouthfeel leads into a most curious juxtaposition of flavours sweet chocolate, cooling peppermint, pungent peat smoke, bitter almonds, and then a hugely long, lingering burst of spices like aniseed and clove. Finish: The enormous, heavy smoke is always present and even as the aftertaste starts to build, the aromatic, heathery smoke never fades, it remains right to the very end.

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- 90
Ardbeg Ardcore Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$240. 00
Bottle
$2880.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Another Ardbeg Day release arrives, bottled once and never to be repeated. This time around, it's created with roasted black malt - a first for Ardbeg. Incinerated to within an inch of its life, the malt defines the profile contributing charcoal and sweet smoke, aniseed and dark chocolate for a memorable Islay experience. Trumping past releases, Ardbeg's marketing department has gone to considerable lengths for the new edition, this time focusing on the brand’s alleged punk past, with Islay’s main port, Port Ellen, going by the nickname ‘Punk Ellen’ in the 1970s. (There was even a punk posse led by the local hotelier's daughter, which reached as many as three at the height of its notoriety). Meanwhile, Ardbeg’s head of distilling and whisky creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden, describes the flavour as being “like biting on a spiky ball.” Collectors will love it, with the story and presentation being a hook for followers of the brand. The limited edition main release has landed (as opposed to the even more limited Committee Release) and as is always the case, it comes bottled at 46% and non chill filtered.
The first sniffs bring young distillate to the fore, so from a fresh bottle give this a good ten minutes and you'll get a moderate lift of menthol-infused peat that also hints at anise, fennel and rye bread receding into sweeter smoke and vanilla malt with further air contact. It's medium bodied and sweetly peaty (think Caol Ila); hints of Elastoplast mingle with chocolate sponge cake and sprinklings of pepper; the finish is ashy and warming with citrus tang lacing late malt sweetness. Overall, in spite of the presentation and marketing, this is much more civilised and approachable than you might expect.
Notes from the producers... Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage. TASTE: A jaw dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel leads to an explosion of rich, smoky flavours – cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their way to the fore, punkturing taste buds. FINISH: In an altogether sweeter finish, long, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, but delicious, aftertaste.

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Ardbeg Fermutation Committee Release 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$399. 00
Bottle
$4788.00 Dozen

ABV: 49.4%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

Age statements and transparency seem to be returning to official Ardbeg releases. This new Committee-only offering highlights the impact of the longest fermentation in the distillery's history. Many loyal Ardbeggians have been particularly excited about 'Fermutation', the result of a happy accident in 2007 when a boiler broke down. It led to an unplanned experiment, as six washbacks with tens of thousands of litres of fermented wort sat waiting to be distilled. In the end it took three weeks before the boiler was repaired and distilling could commence (for context, most Ardbeg is only fermented for 72 hours, making three weeks unchartered territory). Director of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden had always intended to trial longer ferments, describing the resulting dram as "...tasting like pure science fiction. Peat and smoke meld beautifully with fresh, floral flavours, while sharp, more malty notes give Ardbeg Fermutation a uniquely zingy profile.”
“Blind luck is sometimes just part of the way we do things here at Ardbeg,” added Colin Gordon, Ardbeg’s Distillery Manager. “But the creation of Fermutation wasn’t simply good fortune. Quick thinking, ingenuity and a little assistance from tiny beings in the atmosphere helped us get here. At 13 years old, this is of course an aged Ardbeg – something I’m sure our fans will be delighted to get their hands on.”
Once again, the distillery marketing team have gone for a quirky sci-fi pulp-novel look and feel, which compliments several other releases to date - and sort of makes sense, given just how different this whisky is reported to be. Bottled non chill filtered at 49.4% Alc./Vol. Extremely limited stocks.
Notes from the producers... Nose: Fresh, floral, herbal and tart. Hints of mixed herbs and cedar wood. Very zesty, vibrant, hints of smoked orange and grapefruit, lots of menthol and peppermint. With water, powerful bursts of diesel oil, tar, fresh paint and aniseed. As this dies down, a memory of freshly cut hay, and the tiniest hint of something savoury, like yeast extract or bread dough. Taste: A lively, vibrant, sharp, ‘zingy’ texture, leading into very firm, distinctive flavours – malty/biscuit tones, powerful aniseed, cardamom, antiseptic lozenge, sweet mint toffee and cigar ash. Finish: Finally, a lingering, salty, firm aftertaste of mint, tar, oak tannin & leather.

Delivery Information
- Limit One per customer
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 3

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.2%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Last year's release was summed up by Head Whisky Creator Dr. Bill Lumsden as "The epitome of Ardbeg". Batch 3 continues that theme, with a lengthy maturation in a combination of American oak and oloroso sherry casks. Bottled in much smaller quantities than the rest of the core range, Batch 3 is also the first in the series to be signed by new Distillery Manager, Colin Gordon since Mickey Head's recent retirement, and the first release in Ardbeg's history to be bottled "in a lockdown", as noted on the front label.
Traigh Bhan is now firmly in collector-land. Consequently, few tasting notes are available (with the exception of Angus from whiskyfun.com who confirms a high standard has been maintained. See below). If you're looking to add to your collection or just want to find out what well-aged Ardbeg tastes like, don't hesitate on this offer. For those new to the label, the name is a reference to the local Traigh Bhan beach on Islay, which is known as the 'Singing Sands'. Each batch is intended to be slightly different from the last due to minor changes in cask selection. Lumsden comments, “The main difference with Batch 3 is that it has been imbued with an altogether more fragrant, spicy character.” Expect zesty lime and walnuts alongside bolder flavours of cayenne pepper and aniseed. 46.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill-filtered.
Other reviews... The latest batch I believe. Is it just me, or are these batch numbers are longer than Bill Lumsden's joke book? Colour: pale gold. Nose: a highly aromatic and scented type of peat smoke that feels quite wispy, soft and permeating with impressions of sandalwood, furniture polish and crushed sea shells. Also things like smoked tea, menthol tobacco, myrtle and heather beer. Even though I suppose this is early 2000s Glenmorangie produced batches now, it feels more reminiscent of the 1990s Allied style. Which is quite reassuring in many ways. Mouth: pepper, smoked olive oil, very tarry, a lot of hessian, smoked cereals and some struck flints and other rather punchy mineral touches. In time it evolves these big camphor aspects but also quite a lot of dried herbs, aniseed, dried lime peel and hardwood resins. Finish: medium and with this warming peppery and peaty side (which seems to be an increasing hallmark of these modern Ardbeg), leather, pine cones, wood smoke and a little more aniseed. Comments: excellent whisky, no doubt about it. But perhaps the 8 was a tad more impressive simply by virtue of its youthful zest. Anyway, we're splitting hairs - this is lovely. 90 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from Ardbeg.... Nose: In this whisky, faint waves of scented woodsmoke mingle with sea spray and pine resin. Wisps of aniseed toffee and sweet lilies follow on the breeze while fresh citrus zest laps over notes of cayenne pepper. With a splash of water, waxy notes and charcoal flow into droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil. Palate: A rush of rich, sappy textures is followed moments later by classic sweet smokiness. Tarry rope and treacle toffee plunge the palate into a second wave of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke bobs on the horizon, while smoked brown sugar, walnuts and spices gently dissolve away. Finish: A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds and clove in its wake, before slowly drifting away.

Delivery Information
- Limit One per customer
2011 Ardbeg Single Cask No.2323 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$2499. 00
Bottle
$29988.00 Dozen

ABV: 58.2%

Exclusively allocated to Ardbeg embassies with just 304 bottles available globally. This is one for the lucky few.
Considering the cult following Ardbeg has developed over the last few decades, it's almost unbelievable to think that the distillery was closed on and off for fifteen years until 1996, when it was purchased by Glenmorangie. Part of the huge upsurge in popularity has been driven by a steady stream of new releases, targeting both drinkers and collectors. The latest super-premium addition is this all-natural expression matured in a first-fill x-Cote Rotie wine cask, sourced from the Northern Rhone Valley in France (the exact estate is not disclosed). Filled on the 22nd August 2011 and bottled on the 28th of July 2020 exclusively for Ardbeg embassies around the world, cask #2323 is also reported to be one of the last to be signed by Distillery Manager, Mickey Heads before retiring. The new Manager, Colin Gordon is set to take over the helm and drive the company forward to even greater success. Instantly snapped up in global markets, this is certain to show considerable future upside for ardent investors and promises a full-throttle Islay tasting experience. Official notes by Dr Bill Lumsden below.
Notes from the producers... Nose – Deep, pungent and salty, with medicinal notes, dark chocolate, brambly fruit and the tiniest hint of vanilla. A splash of water brings out a flinty minerality, along with pungent floral notes like narcissus or lilies. As the bouquet continues to open up, the classic, smoky Ardbeg character starts to build. Palate – The mouthfeel is full and rounded. The primary flavour is bold and svaoury, with deep peat smoke, a curious rubbery note, and the suggestion of smoked cocoa powder. There is a soft oiliness throughout, with crunchy oak tannins and a touch of clove and nutmeg. The aftertaste lingers with salted peanuts, dark chocolate cream and a touch of coal tar. Non chill filtered. 58.2% Alc./Vol. Strictly limited to one bottle per customer.

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Ardbeg Monsters of Smoke Limited Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting Pack (3x200ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$94. 99
Bottle
$1139.88 Dozen

Ardbeg's new collectable packs are an affordable way to sample the core range in an ‘at home’ tasting experience. They're also a great gifting opportunity. The presentation is inspired by old B-grade horror movie posters and each bottle has a peelable label that reveals unique artwork lurking beneath.
The pack comprises 3 x 200ml bottles: The flagship Ardbeg Ten Years Old, the feisty and youthful Ardbeg Five Years Old Wee Beastie and Ardbeg An Oa, which is finished in three different cask types. This is a once-off release so Ardbeg enthusiasts take note!

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Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - DAMAGED GIFT BOX

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $174.99
$164. 99
Bottle
$1979.88 Dozen

ABV: 54.2%

Launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) is a cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives the whisky a nice texture and sweet, smokey finish. Our tasting was from a batch released in 2010. It offers a generous, sherry-influenced nose suggesting dried apricot and marmalade over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off-dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. The balance at cask strength is excellent and there's some boiled lolly and spice notes through the aftertaste followed by a subtle spearmint fade. Solid stuff for peaters! 54.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... A curious Ardbeg with a nose to die for. Some tinkering - please guys, as the re-taste is not better - regarding the finish may lift this to being a true classic. 89 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019
...Uigeadail is quite different from the 10 Year Old because it is blended from both bourbon and sherry casks, including some older stock. The sherry influence alone makes for a vastly different experience, starting with the nose, which dampens the smokiness with notes of roasted nuts, citrus, and an earthy, leathery character that simply feels like history. The palate offers a rather different experience, which adds to the curiosity and interest, melding smoke with notes of well-roasted meats, walnut shells, pipe tobacco, and cloves. The finish is lengthy and brooding — aided by the considerably higher alcohol level — a lingering reminder of how this Ardbeg may be an entirely different beast, yet just as good as the 10. - drinkhacker.com
...My God, the first Uigeadail, it was so good back then! But we were in 2004 and we tasted it with Stuart Thompson on site (while smoking cigarettes in the warehouses, different times, different customs. No, just cigarettes). The last Uigeadail we tasted, a 'circa 2017', was still very good (WF 85), but far from the early batches which tended to surf around 92 points. Colour: gold. Nose: it's good, effective, very peaty of course, again with barbecue and ash notes, a sherry influence more discreet than in the past (green walnuts), and some broken branches. Some sap, in short. With water: very, very good, maritime, with very nice notes of barbecue on the beach, when we grill both fresh fish and marshmallows. Not together mind you! Mouth (neat): it's very good, very powerful, with much more substance than in the Corryvreckan. It almost tastes like smoked walnut oil, just like there's smoked sesame oil. In fact, we can find a bit of that too in this Uigeadail. Also some touches of canned peach, which always works. With water: milk chocolate and roasted peanuts. What wouldn't I do for some roasted peanuts!? Finish: long and a bit more drying which is really not unusual. Very nice final finish on oysters and candied citron, plus a bit of walnut oil and chocolate. Comments: oh yes, it talks! Very nice balance in this recent batch, the flame is alive and glowing. 88 points - whiskyfun.com
Nose: Intensely smoky. Dry, clean, tangy smoke. Like standing downwind of the barbecue while steaks are char-grilled on the beach. Palate: Firm, very smooth, then explodes on the tongue. Finish: Hot. Alcoholic. A shock to the system. Comment: The elemental opposite of the sophisticated Lord of the Isles. RATING: 9.25 points - Michael Jackson,whiskmag.com

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Ardbeg For Discussion Committee Release 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $124.99
$109. 99
Bottle
$1319.88 Dozen

ABV: 50.8%

Way back in 2004, Ardbeg launched the first of the “For Discussion” series. Labelled as 'Very Young', it gave Ardbeg enthusiasts the chance to sample a ‘work in progress’. This latest 'Committee-exclusive' bottling revisits that theme. It's the result of an experiment by Master Distiller, Dr Bill Lumsden and an attempt to answer his question "what if, in an alternative universe, Ardbeg Ten was not the distillery’s “flagship” aged expression?"
Lumsden adds, "An aged ex-Sherry whisky is new territory for us, so naturally, we want some thoughts. We’re sharing this with the Committee’s experienced palates to help us find that smoky sweet spot. It’s more than guaranteed to provoke discussion among those privileged enough to taste it.”
Historically, Committee release bottlings have not been offered to retail. We've managed to secure a small quantity for Australian Ardbeg fans.
Other reviews... When smoke melts in the mouth, when the sugars are directly in equal proportion to the measured spices, when the mouth feel is enriched by oil but light enough to allow the more delicate structures to stand unbowed after the tsunami of phenol... then you know this is Ardbeg being true to itself. 94.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
...It's great that these bottles have more 'common sense' L codes these days. Colour: bright straw. Nose: delicately salty, this sense of things like smoked and pink sea salts. Bath bombs, sandalwood, briny pickling juices, kippers - feels notably more mature after the 5yo, perhaps deceptively so. But still, it's another very good one. With water: getting more aromatic and medicinal now with things like witchhazel, wintergreen and aniseed. Some touches of germoline and camphor as well. Mouth: hoho, lovely oily and textural peat, slathered on phenolics, engine grease, tar extracts, some punchy hospital vibes, gauze, iodine, black pepper and thick sooty notes. Totally superb and the texture is really what impresses most! With water: wonderful peat flavour, cough medicines, pepper and anchovy paste. A terrific tarriness that feels totally Ardbeggy. Finish: good length, peppery, tarry, slightly fishy and still with this wonderfully oily and phenolic vibe. Comments: I find this wee baby just absolutely superb, what I love most is that it feels not only technically good, but with this wonderfully texture it also feels like it has a soul to match. Benchmark young modern Ardbeg at its best. I will be buying a couple of bottles and you may take that as a firm seal of approval. 90 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producer... Pale Straw. NOSE: Intense with a burst of charcoal, creosote, tar and treacle toffee, with curious hints of something vegetal, like fennel, celery and green peppers Once these subside, there are hints of milk chocolate, aniseed and wood smoke. With a little drop of water, some more herbal notes appear, like fennel, coriander and lavender, along with some characteristic Ardbeg aromatic wood smoke and a hint of fresh, salty sea spray. TASTE: A distinctively peppery mouthfeel eases into a complex symphony of flavours treacle toffee, aniseed, salted caramel chocolate, eucalyptus, menthol and briar wood, to name but a few. The ‘ peppery sensation on the palate continues, with the sweeter flavours giving way to more savoury notes like charcoal, smoked bacon, burnt toast and tar. FINISH: The aftertaste is long and lingering, with a suggestion of peppermint and clove. 50.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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Ardbeg Scorch Committee Release Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$399. 00
Bottle
$4788.00 Dozen

ABV: 51.7%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Fans will already be aware that Ardbeg Day falls on the final Saturday of Islay’s annual Festival of Music and Malt. As usual, there are two new releases to mark the event. The 'Committee Release' is offered in smaller quantities than the general Ardbeg Day release and is bottled at cask strength. In 2021, Ardbeg pays homage to the myth of a dragon said to inhabit Islay. Labeled 'Ardbeg Scorch', it comes matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon American oak casks for an unspecified amount of time. Consensus amongst bloggers who received forward samples is that this is "one of the best special editions from Ardbeg in recent years."
Tasting note: Deep brass gold. Drier and more reticent on the nose than the general release, offering less overt smokiness but more maritime / seaweed / ocean breeze character. Additional time in the glass adds peppercorns, liquorice bullets, pine sap and mezcal-like aromas rather than extreme peat. Beautifully rounded and balanced. A lushly Islay-esque delivery where the alcohol barely nips the sides of the tongue. Only marginally more intense than the 46% bottling and with a similar flavour range, but this maintains momentum and mouthfeel all the way; the final stages are almost honeyed while being briney / peaty / oily and invigoratingly fresh at the same time. Ends elegantly, with medicinal lozenges, fresh-cut pine and a satisfying spirit heat. 51.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... "A gently smoking barbeque on the nose, with cooked bacon, rubber, toasted wood and chewy tannins. There is a nice smokiness on the palate that gets nice and fruity, before becoming quite dry and bitter on the finish." Bronze Medal - World Whisky Awards 2021
Notes from Ardbeg... On the nose, frighteningly intense aromas of soot and smoke lie in wait. Hints of aniseed and fragrant patchouli interlace with bold notes of quenched steel and saddle soap. With a drop of water, herbal top notes of briarwood, sage and pine wisp their way to the fore. Take a sip and experience lair upon lair of flavour. An oily mouthfeel grips the senses. Billowy clouds of sweet smoke and dragon charred oak permeate the palate, while grilled fare and black liquorice weave between notes of medicinal lozenge. A long and heroic finale, with a subtle tarry aftertaste. A finish that will drag on, well into its happily ever after.

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Ardbeg Scorch Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

To scorch is to burn something fiercely, to the point where its surface chars or otherwise changes colour - hence the title of the new Ardbeg Day release which comes matured in “heavily charred” ex-Bourbon casks. The concept draws comparisions with an earlier Ardbeg Day release - 'Ardbeg Alligator', although reports have it that the char time is longer with Scorch. The barrels are all x Bourbon too, rather than virgin American oak. Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, called the new release “a fire-breathing beast of a dram” describing a whisky with "aromas of soot, smoke, aniseed and patchouli, and a palate that marries smoky grilled notes with black liquorice and medicinal lozenges."
This year Ardbeg Day will be held on 5th June and will take place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be the second year the festival has been virtual.
Tasting note: Brilliant brass gold. Kicks off with a combination of cigar ash meets medicine chest that has Islay written all over it. Brief air contact adds traces of peppermint chocolate, char grill, lanolin... further sniffings mellow the bouquet accenting cough lozenges and a sweet, sooty note. Entry is dryish and concentrated. Mid palate expands with oily malt, sweet peat reek, tingling spices and maritime freshness. The finish is almost tranquil compared: Creamy, gently smoky/saline but lacking the energy and drive associated with Ardbeg at its most memorable. Falls away into an ashy oblivion, a fragile thread of sugars in tow. 46% Alc./Vol.

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Ardbeg 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$2699. 00
Bottle
$32388.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The newest, oldest whisky to join Ardbeg's core range is an impressively packaged 25 year old, an age statement not seen since the 'Lord of the Isles' bottlings over a decade ago. It's also the oldest permanent addition to the brand, distilled in the 1990s, and available in limited quantities due to its age and rarity. Readers should note that very little whisky was produced at the distillery in the middle '90s. Ardbeg’s production halted in 1981, then resumed in 1989 under Hiram Walker but remained at a low level until late 1996. Most Ardbeg enthusiasts will have tasted little from this distillery's 'quiet period'. Hence, this first edition represents a genuine slice of Islay history.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s chief whisky creator, comments: “After a quarter of a century in the cask, you’d be forgiven for imagining that Ardbeg 25 Years Old would have lost some of the hallmark smoky punch. I can assure you it hasn’t.... And yet there’s also a remarkable complexity and elegance to this whisky that I find utterly captivating. It’s unmistakably Ardbeg, but unlike any Ardbeg you’ve tasted before.”
Strikingly presented in a gun metal coloured bottle, Ardbeg 25 comes housed in a case featuring a modern metallic take on the classic Ardbeg knotwork, symbolic of the untamed complexity of this extraordinary whisky.
Notes from Ardbeg... smoked cream, peppermint, toffee, fennel and pine resin on the nose, leading to a ‘vibrant, hot peppery mouthfeel’ with flavours of sherbet lemon, carbolic soap and tar, creamy toffee, aniseed and chilli pepper. The finish is said to be long, mellow and lingering, with cream, fudge and antiseptic notes. Non chill filtered. 46% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
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Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $99.99
$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 47.4%

"...shows more complexity than some whiskies twice its age, making it a remarkable find." - Number 6 in the 2020 Top 20 by whiskyadvocate.com
Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Ardbeg family. Youthful, but with an enticingly fresh sea air quality on the nose, as well as hints of iodine, menthol, lanolin and pear, it carries the ABV effortlessly in a breezy, medium bodied delivery. The typically assertive Ardbeggian smoke is somewhat tamed. Instead, nuances of fruit'n'nut chocolate, menthol cigarettes, caraway and rye bread come through. The finish is gently peaty, with hints of fruit and a pleasant salt and pepper tang. An Ardbeg for all occasions. 47.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Starts off with a mesmerically youthful lustiness full of the sunny joys of a blossoming spring. Ends in the grey of a foggy autumnal evening.
91 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2021
...The youthful age statement may take many scotch drinkers by surprise, but don’t let double-digit bias prevent you from enjoying this exciting yet easy-drinking peat bomb. Salt water and seaweed, smoke and sweet peat tussle on the nose, while vanilla, fresh berries, and ample nuttiness spread out and take hold. The structured, balanced palate is creamy, nutty, and spiced, showcasing brown-sugar bacon, smoked salt, milk chocolate, pepper, and well-integrated oak, all wrapped up like a cigar with flakes of ash and sustained smoke. This precocious youngster shows more complexity than some whiskies twice its age, making it a remarkable find. Number 6 in the 2020 Top 20 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton 2020
...The bottle really reminds me of G&M’s early Connoisseurs Choices, or Avonsides. Black, gold, red… Retro keeps striking in whisky. No need to add that we love it that they would have boldly displayed a young age statement, that’s extremely smart, well done Ardbeg, s***w NAS! Colour: straw. Nose: but there, yes, aha, sure. It’s a bit steely at first (grandma’s old tin boxes), then goes onto agave, reaches brine-y aromas, gets to the citrus department, steals a few pears, and finally displays the right amount of tar and peat smoke. In the background, whiffs of raw wool and wet dogs. Dogs, I know we owe you one. Mouth: this feeling of smoked pears that we were expecting, then more sweetness and fruits (passion fruits, melons), then ‘the ashtray’ and notes of Corsican citron liqueur. And why not, Corsica’s an island too! I find it rather sweeter and fruitier than expected, and frankly gentler, but that’s an easier style that I enjoy mucho. It’s just not ‘a beast’ at all if you ask me. Finish: long, clean, rather citrusy and sweet, with moderate smoke. Some eucalyptus in the aftertaste, that’s always very good. Comments: I’m not disappointed at all. Sure they could have named it ‘For the Bar in the Little House on the Prairie’ instead, for it’s rather gentle, but there, well done, it’s one of my favourite recent official ‘begs. 88 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
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Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $109.99
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

"...a nimble touch and a disarming allure. Just close your eyes and enjoy." 97 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023
Perched on a rocky headland, the Ardbeg distillery was founded in 1815 by the MacDougalls of Ardbeg. The distillery's scattered white-washed buildings are reminiscent of a Dutch settlement and add to the dramatic coastal landscape. Ardbeg has had a chequered history and in recent times had been closed down for many years. Glenmorangie acquired Ardbeg in 1997 and has set about restoring the distillery to its former glory. Despite the turbulence of its past, none of Ardbeg’s qualities have been diminished. All of the time-worn traditions have been carefully preserved and passed on to today’s whisky makers. The Ardbeg 10 Year Old is clear testimony to this. In his 'Complete Book of Whisky' Jim Murray said of it: 'If perfection on the palate exists, this is it.'
Other reviews...n24 more complex, citrus-led and sophisticated than recent bottlings, though the peat is no less but now simply displayed in an even greater elegance; a beautiful sea salt strain to this; t24 gentle oils carry on them a lemon-lime edge, sweetened by barley and a weak solution of golden syrup; the peat is omnipotent, turning up in every crevice and wave, yet never once over-stepping its boundary; f24 stuuningly clean, the oak offers not a bitter trace but rather a vanilla and butterscotch edge to the barley. Again the smoke wafts around in a manner unique in the world of whisky when it comes to sheer elan and adroitness; b25 like when you usually come accross something that goes down so beautifully and with such a nimble touch and disallarming allure, just close your eyes and enjoy... 97 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013 / 2023
...Last time we tried our beloved Ten it was a circa 2015 bottling, and it was great (WF 89). Colour: white wine. Nose: I have the feeling that Ardbeg Ten got more crystalline, perhaps a tad simpler as well, and probably more distillate-driven than ever before. I’m so glad no obvious vanilla is dumbing it down, and of course no ‘wine’, so this is as bright as possible and full of lime, seawater, smoked salmon, and of these wee tarry/cardboardy touch that are so typically Ardbeg. Shall we call this nose ‘razory’? Mouth: lapsang souchong with lime, smoked almonds, kippers, plasticine, almond oil, whelks, brine, hessian… This is just perfectly perfect. Finish: rather long, smoky, almondy, lime-y, salty. Comments: the month is not over but Ardbeg 10 will possibly be March’s bang-for-your-buck bottling. Because in my little tasting book, Ardbeg 10 is simply back to… 90 points - whiskyfun.com
...the classic Ardbeg bottling, and one of the most heavily peated entry-level whiskies from all of Scotland. Ten years are just about right for taming Ardbeg’s fire, though the nose is still moderately heavy with straight, smoky peat notes, though also lightly briny but distinctly maritime in its tone. The body follows in lockstep, adding to the burning embers of driftwood notes of iodine, orange peel, coriander, and ginger. Beautifully balanced despite the heavy peat influence, it remains one of the most essential Islay whiskies — and an essential whisky that is required drinking for anyone who wants to form a base understanding of single malts. - drinkhacker.com
...Nose: Astoundingly smoky, yet delicate with subtle tarry notes behind. With water the smoke dies a little and raisin and caramelised apple notes emerge. Palate: An immediate waft of peat smoke. Full, robustly flavoured with turf and lapsang souchong tea. Finish: Salty, long and filled with fragrant peat reek. Comment: A punch in the chops from a stroppy Islay middleweight. Flavour-packed yet delicate. Rated: 9/10 - whiskymag.com
Cocktail: The Smoky Martini
This is an unusual combination that works surprisingly well. Some people use less peaty whiskies, however the true Smoky Martini requires the likes of Ardbeg or Laphroaig – Single Malts which lend their peaty, textured flavour to the creamy character of a good vodka.
Method: Rinse a chilled martini glass with Ardbeg Malt Whisky and pour out any extra. Shake 60ml of Premium Vodka in a shaker filled with large ice cubes and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon and orange twist.

Delivery Information
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Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $174.99
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 54.2%

Launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) is a cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives the whisky a nice texture and sweet, smokey finish. Our tasting was from a batch released in 2010. It offers a generous, sherry-influenced nose suggesting dried apricot and marmalade over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off-dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. The balance at cask strength is excellent and there's some boiled lolly and spice notes through the aftertaste followed by a subtle spearmint fade. Solid stuff for peaters! 54.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... A curious Ardbeg with a nose to die for. Some tinkering - please guys, as the re-taste is not better - regarding the finish may lift this to being a true classic. 89 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019
...Uigeadail is quite different from the 10 Year Old because it is blended from both bourbon and sherry casks, including some older stock. The sherry influence alone makes for a vastly different experience, starting with the nose, which dampens the smokiness with notes of roasted nuts, citrus, and an earthy, leathery character that simply feels like history. The palate offers a rather different experience, which adds to the curiosity and interest, melding smoke with notes of well-roasted meats, walnut shells, pipe tobacco, and cloves. The finish is lengthy and brooding — aided by the considerably higher alcohol level — a lingering reminder of how this Ardbeg may be an entirely different beast, yet just as good as the 10. - drinkhacker.com
...My God, the first Uigeadail, it was so good back then! But we were in 2004 and we tasted it with Stuart Thompson on site (while smoking cigarettes in the warehouses, different times, different customs. No, just cigarettes). The last Uigeadail we tasted, a 'circa 2017', was still very good (WF 85), but far from the early batches which tended to surf around 92 points. Colour: gold. Nose: it's good, effective, very peaty of course, again with barbecue and ash notes, a sherry influence more discreet than in the past (green walnuts), and some broken branches. Some sap, in short. With water: very, very good, maritime, with very nice notes of barbecue on the beach, when we grill both fresh fish and marshmallows. Not together mind you! Mouth (neat): it's very good, very powerful, with much more substance than in the Corryvreckan. It almost tastes like smoked walnut oil, just like there's smoked sesame oil. In fact, we can find a bit of that too in this Uigeadail. Also some touches of canned peach, which always works. With water: milk chocolate and roasted peanuts. What wouldn't I do for some roasted peanuts!? Finish: long and a bit more drying which is really not unusual. Very nice final finish on oysters and candied citron, plus a bit of walnut oil and chocolate. Comments: oh yes, it talks! Very nice balance in this recent batch, the flame is alive and glowing. 88 points - whiskyfun.com
Nose: Intensely smoky. Dry, clean, tangy smoke. Like standing downwind of the barbecue while steaks are char-grilled on the beach. Palate: Firm, very smooth, then explodes on the tongue. Finish: Hot. Alcoholic. A shock to the system. Comment: The elemental opposite of the sophisticated Lord of the Isles. RATING: 9.25 points - Michael Jackson,whiskmag.com

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Ardbeg Blaaack Committee Reserve Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$599. 00
Bottle
$7188.00 Dozen

ABV: 50.7%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

This is the committee exclusive that was never offered to general retail, so quite rare and obviously sought after by collectors who may have missed out.

It celebrates twenty years of the distillery's fan club, (the Ardbeg Committee) as noted on the label. With over 120,000 members in 140 countries around the world, their role is to test new expressions, give feedback, visit the distillery and generally promote the brand. 'Blaaack' is a first for Ardbeg, with the core of the liquid having been extensively aged in Pinot Noir barrels from New Zealand, the sheep (and wine) country, hence the quirky black sheep theme. 50.7% Alc./Vol. One only from a private collection.

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Ardbeg Drum Committee Reserve Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 52%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

Last year’s Ardbeg Day release was Ardbeg Grooves. The Committee Release was so popular that unexpectedly high demand caused Ardbeg’s website to crash. The general retail release also sold out apace. (At the time of writing, it’s on the secondary market at around AU $200).
Here we go again... This year, we have just a few bottles of the latest and greatest Ardbeg Day bottling, "Ardebg Drum" (ex-Bourbon and Rum casks). This natural strength ‘Committee Release’ was only available from the website via a secret link that sold out in 24 hours. These bottlings have proved very collectable with previous editions showing good investment upside.
Notes from Ardbeg... Nose: In Drum, fragrant pine resin and woodsmoke dance alongside ripe banana and pineapple in a downright wondrous paradiddle of aromas, before parading into smoked apples and dry cocoa powder. Distant ginger, spiced dates and cinnamon sway into floating notes of lavender. Palate: On the palate, waves of smoke, tar and creosote cascade into a dry peppery mouthfeel. Clove, liquorice and ginger strut towards rich notes of dark chocolate and smoked vanilla. Finish: Intense smoke, roasted coffee liqueur and a treasure trove of sweet spices come together in one deliciously complex crescendo. 52% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
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Ardbeg 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1199. 00
Bottle
$14388.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
If you thought Ardbeg would never release another age statement, you've just been proved wrong. In a surprising move, Ardbeg has skipped the 17-18 year bracket, instead opting for an unusual 21 year old expression. Importantly for drinkers and collectors, the distillery switched from its original decision to make this a Committee exclusive (that's the 120,000+ strong fan base that helps to ensure Ardbeg stays afloat) offerring this as a general release (albeit as a limited edition). Bill Lumsden, head of whisky production at Ardbeg, says "the whisky for this expression was distilled in 1993 and 1994 when Ardbeg was owned by Allied Domecq and only operated for a few weeks each year to produce peated malt whisky primarily for blending use."The owners of the casks (Chivas Regal) agreed to sell them back to Moet Hennessey - Ardbeg's parent company.
In an interview with Mark Gillespie from www.whiskycast.com, Lumsden elaborated: “They very kindly agreed to sell us that stock back…now, when you buy stock back from someone which has been destined for blends, you’re never certain as to the quality of the wood that it’s been filled into. Prior to the purchase, I was sent samples from six or so casks out of the 270 or so we bought, so obviously when the deal went through and I had the stock moved to Ardbeg Distillery on Islay (it had been matured in Chivas Brothers warehouses on the mainland), I sampled every single cask, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised at how good the stock was.”
Ardbeg’s production was halted in 1981, resumed in 1989 by Hiram Walker but continued at a low level until late 1996. Most Ardbeg enthusiasts will have tasted little from this distillery's 1994-1995 quiet period so this represents a genuine slice of Islay history.
Other reviews... tap into Ardbeg with great care, like someone has done here, and there is no describing what beauty can be unleashed. For much of the time the smoke performs in brilliant fashion, somewhere between the ethereal and the profound. 46% Alc./Vol.
96.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017

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Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Reserve Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$650. 00
Bottle
$7800.00 Dozen

ABV: 51.7%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

A sought-after Committee Release Ardbeg from 2017, bottled at 51.7% Alc./Vol.
Great review from Jim Murray.

Other reviews... As usual, this baby Ardbeg comes with some kind of ‘Celtic legend’, as well as some unlikely wood, in this case some new oak from around the Black Sea. Isn’t it funny that you’d need so many funny stories when you cannot or do not want to disclose the age of your whisky? Is it that young? Colour: straw. Nose: as simple as 1+1, almost elementary, and yet immediately appealing. I’m finding it very pure, very obvious in the best way, with a little lemon and custard, and then an ashy/coastal smokiness mixed with raw malt and, indeed, some kelp. A thin nose, yet a great nose. With water: fresh bread and a gingery smoke. Mouth (neat): very different, there’s perhaps a little too much spicy oak for me in the arrival. A little too much caraway, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves for Ardbeg, at times it feels like some two-year-old American craft whiskey, really. Not that it’s bad, quite the opposite, it’s just kind of lost lost a wee chunk of the brand’s DNA, as they say in London. With water: rather better, water brings out more Ardbegness. Finish: better, fresher, lemony, smoky, rather gentle. Very nice spicy grapefruits in the aftertaste, as well as more spicy tannins again. Comments: very good but feels a little young and a wee bit doctored on the palate. The nose was really very nice, especially when unreduced, though.
86 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com

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- 95
Ardbeg Grooves Committee Reserve Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 51.6%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not shown.
A relatively hard-to-find Ardbeg Day bottling which Jim Murray enthused over, rating it 95.5 points.
Quite collectable. 51.6% Alc./Vol.
For 'Grooves', director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden has employed heavily charred red wine casks, the heat creating grooves in the surface of the wood. The expectation was to release flavours and aromas accenting "smoked spices, distant bonfires and chilli-seasoned meats".
"Casks made with grooved wood aren’t entirely new" notes Whisky Advocate. "Dewar’s released “Scratched Cask” a few years ago, where it finished whisky in heavily charred casks that had been scratched at the char layer, while Maker’s Mark offers grooved “cuvée” staves in its Private Select barrel program. The grooves offer additional surface area for the spirit to come into contact with, meaning heavier wood influence in the final whisky’s flavor.”
The marketing team have followed through with packaging inspired by 1960s hippie culture. And if you're lucky enough to attend the festival, this year will see the distillery transport whisky fans back in time, to the Ardbeg village of the late 1960s. Manager, Mickey Heads, adds “It was a very different place – a groovy wee community, with its own post office, billiards hall, two choirs and even a football team." It sounds like fun, but we'll have to settle for the whisky.

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Ardbeg Grooves Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$399. 00
Bottle
$4788.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
The annual releases mark the final day of Islay’s Festival of Malt & Music (Fèis Ìle). This year, it’s June 2nd. As usual, you won’t be able to buy the cask strength bottling unless you’re a Committee member, however, the whisky comes in a 46% variant for general retail. Volumes aren't specified, but this year's seems more severely allocated than any we can recall.
And the story behind the quirky title?
The intention of any Ardbeg Day bottling is to offer an unusual blend or introduce a novel production technique that differs from the distillery’s traditional practice. For 'Grooves', director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden has employed heavily charred red wine casks, the heat creating grooves in the surface of the wood. The expectation was to release flavours and aromas accenting "smoked spices, distant bonfires and chilli-seasoned meats".
"Casks made with grooved wood aren’t entirely new" notes Whisky Advocate. "Dewar’s released “Scratched Cask” a few years ago, where it finished whisky in heavily charred casks that had been scratched at the char layer, while Maker’s Mark offers grooved “cuvée” staves in its Private Select barrel program. The grooves offer additional surface area for the spirit to come into contact with, meaning heavier wood influence in the final whisky’s flavor.”
The marketing team have followed through with packaging inspired by 1960s hippie culture. And if you're lucky enough to attend the festival, this year will see the distillery transport whisky fans back in time, to the Ardbeg village of the late 1960s. Manager, Mickey Heads, adds “It was a very different place – a groovy wee community, with its own post office, billiards hall, two choirs and even a football team." It sounds like fun, but we'll have to settle for the whisky.
Tasting note: Amber to deep gold in colour. A great sniff: Sooty and salt laced. Develops over 5-10 minutes yielding aromas of baked citrus, stewed plums, wine soaked pears and suggestions of smoked fish and beef jerky. Later passes accent the sweet malt countered by 'fresher' notes of smoldering eucalyptus, lanolin, menthol tobacco and butter menthol lozenge. Quite soft on entry, but at 46% still manages a decent attack; lots of wood sugars melting into the phenols; the honeyed-smoked combo evokes (heavily peated) Highland Park. Creamier to finish with a salty-sooty deluge. Dapples of chillie heat and menthol-rub through the aftertaste. The wood vies with the peat in controlled tension. 46% Alc./Vol.

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Ardbeg Drum Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

Last year’s Ardbeg Day release was Ardbeg Grooves, a whisky matured in re-toasted red wine casks which were intensely charred to create heavy grooves in the surface of the wood. The Committee Release was so popular that unexpectedly high demand caused Ardbeg’s website to crash. The general retail release also sold out apace. (At the time of writing, it’s on the secondary market at around AU $200).
This year’s Ardbeg Day celebrations take a Caribbean twist with the release of the distillery's first rum-finished expression, a no-age-statement single malt matured in ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in ex-rum casks from South America. According to Brendan McCarron, Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks for The Glenmorangie Company (which makes Ardbeg), it was a good ten years in the making from the initial idea. Bottled non chill filtered at 46%, not surprisingly, it’s described as having notes of "pine resin, wood smoke, ripe banana and pineapple". Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, agrees, adding that drinkers can expect to find “a multitude of complex flavours across the palate – including lavender, licorice, and vanilla strutting into a long, smoky finish.”
There's some speculation as to the provenance of the rum barrels, with suggestions the Diamond Distillery based in Guyana was the source. Ardbeg Drum ‘Committee Release’ was only available from the website via a secret link that sold out in 24 hours. With allocations for the general retail release less than last year's 'Grooves', expect this to go fast.
Tasting note: Pale straw gold. Less overtly smokey than you might expect, evoking a creamy vanilla sweetness on the nose: hints at grilled pineapple becoming fresher with citrus, menthol and whiffs of seaspray. Quite intense and Mezcal-like with char grilled fruits, vanilla, white chocolate and spikes of paprika and brine through the brisk, sooty finish. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This Ardbeg Day 2019 bottling was aged in bourbon barrels before a period of finishing in rum casks. Characteristic Ardbeg citrus and smoke on the nose, but with the addition of green figs, eucalyptus, antiseptic, and brine. Very smooth on the palate, with woodsmoke, mango, and papaya. Big peat and black pepper notes in the finish, underscored by tangy citrus. Ultimately, ashy smoke.
89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Summer 2019)

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Ardbeg Supernova 2nd Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 60.1%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor creasing/scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.

The success and quick demise of the 2009 Ardbeg Supernova had peat lovers panting in their kilts all the way to St.Andrews for another. And here it is!
For those who have never heard of; or experienced Ardbeg Supernova, it was the peatiest whisky Ardbeg made. Over 100ppm (phenols per million, a measure used to dictate the smokiness of a whisky). Contrast this with the likes of Laphroaig or Ardbeg 10 at roughly 50ppm and bombs away.
When deliberating as to what differences between this years and last may be, Ardbeg have put it simply: "The new 2010 expression is out of this world – even deeper, stronger and earthier than the award-winning 2009 edition." This release also boasts a slightly higher ABV at 60.1% compared to the 59.6% on the previous years release.

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2019 Ardbeg Supernova Committee Release Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$750. 00
Bottle
$9000.00 Dozen

ABV: 53.8%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

Well known as the peatiest whisky in the Ardbeg stable, the 2019 Supernova took many by surprise given that the fourth and most recent in 2015 was declared the final bottling. The 2019 edition was matured in ex-Bourbon casks. It's described as having aromas of "pungent aniseed, menthol and eucalyptus’, with a ‘nebula of bonfires, soot, charred oak, birch tar and menthol’ on the palate."
Will it be the last hurrah for Supernova? Don't count on it, but as a Committee exclusive, it's guaranteed to be highly collectable. 53.8% Alc./Vol.

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Ardbeg Corryvreckan Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $199.99
$174. 99
Bottle
$2099.88 Dozen

ABV: 57.1%

A replacement for the discontinued Airigh Nam Beist, 'Cauldron of the speckled sea' (aka Corryvreckan) is a whirlpool located between the Isles of Islay and Jura, and now the name of a whisky. It's base is Ardbeg 10 combined with spirit exclusively matured in French Limousin Virgin oak. We tasted an early batch back in 2011. Dull gold colour with a pale straw hue, it presents an unusual nose for an Ardbeg: Rich chocolate, vanilla, lemon butter and spice above a smoky salty layer, the only evidence that it's Ardbeg is the end note of terracotta/clay/wet charcoal. With time in the glass, fresh smoky characteristics emerge, but do not dominate. The intense palate is initially rich and creamy, quite heavily peated, rich chocolatey flavours mingle harmoniously with the lemon butter before the unusually overt oak grips dry and the peat explodes - softly! The back palate is dry, firm, overtly oaky, and extremely spicy. Excellent balance at cask strength. Warm, tingly, spicy finish. Lemon, dry cocoa, strong spice and gentle smoke dominate the lengthy aftertaste. Unusually dry for Ardbeg, otherwise an utterly brilliant, unique expression of Islay. 57.1% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews.... n23.5 excellent, thick, not entirely un-penetrable - but close - nascent smoke and a vignette of salty, coastal references save the day; t24.5 amazing; here we have Ardbeg nutshelled. Just so many layers of almost unaccountable personalities with perhaps the citrus leading the way in both tart and sweet form and then the oak, in vanilla form, in close proximity. The peat, almost too dense to be seen on the nose, opens out with a fanfare of phenols. it is slumping-in-the-chair stuff, the enormity of the peat taking on the majesty of Cathedral-esque proportions, the notes reverberating around the hollows and recesses and reaching dizzying heights; such is its confidence, this is a malt which says: 'I know where I'm going...!'; f24 long, outwardly laconic but on further investigation just brimming with complexity. Some brown sugary notes help the barley come up trumps late on but it's the uniquely salty shield to the mocha which sets this apart. Simply brilliant and unique in its effortless enormity...even by Ardbeg standards; b25 as famous writers - including the occasional genius film director (stand up wherever you are my heroes Powell and Pressburger) - appear to be attracted to Corryvreckan, the third most violent whirlpool found in the world and just off Islay, to boot, I selected this as my 1,500th whisky tasted for the historic Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2009. I'm so glad I did because many have told me they thought Blasda ahead of this. To me, it's not even a contest. Currently I have only a sample. Soon I shall have a bottle. I doubt if even the feared whirlpool is this deep and perplexing. 57.1% 96.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2009 / 2019
...Powerful, muscular, well-textured, and invigorating. Even within the realm of Ardbeg, this one stands out. The more aggressive notes of coal tar, damp kiln, anise and smoked seaweed are supported by an array of fruit (black raspberry, black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, espresso, molasses, bacon fat, kalamata olive, and warming cinnamon on the finish. Quite stunning! 96 points - John Hansell - whiskyadvocate.com
"Bottled at 114 proof, this spins you right 'round, baby right 'round. Smoky bacon fat turns into seaweed turns into blackberries turns into cigar ash turns into white pepper; such a fun ride, this whisky is. This certainly isn't your old man's Scotch." 93 points - distiller.com

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Ardbeg An Oa Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $129.99
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46.6%

Named after a peninsula on the southernmost point of Islay, Bill Lumsden has mixed it up with this release employing a combination of casks: Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon. The liquid all goes into Ardbeg’s French oak "Gathering Vat". The concept seems to be that some of the spirits in the vat will get older as new casks are added, so it's a Solera of a kind. The age of the whiskies is never disclosed. An Oa (pronounced “an oh”) is set as a part of the core range joining the 10 year old, Uigeadail, and Corryvreckan. Lumsden describes the whisky as "...smoky, sweet and rounded, with unusually, grilled artichokes in the finish." As always with Ardbeg, the aroma is deceptively complex developing with sherried oak aromas, lanolin, sooty vanilla and later, dark chocolate and suggestions of smoldering green pine. Entry is assertively salty, kippery, peppery. Mid palate is oily, medium dry, offering sherried richness along with piney juniper, over-baked sponge cake, black tea and hints of smoked meats at the finish. No shortage of peat, but loses some momentum in the final stages. Non chill filtered. 46.6% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Ardbeg at its driest and most sooty: a real acidic bite to the huge phenol...sublimely textured with an immediate roll call of sugars... effortless and easy like gear changes on an automatic car. It is also beautifully delicious. 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018
...Ardbeg's first standard release in nearly a decade, An Oa is matured in virgin oak, Pedro Ximénez, and bourbon barrels, with component whiskies married in the distillery's French oak 'Gathering Vat.' The nose offers sweet peat, smoky lemon rind, ginger, and angelica. A soft and sweet palate entry is followed by hot peat, black tea, peppery cloves, and aniseed. Black pepper lingers through the long, smoky finish. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...For now, anyway, in a lot of ways, this comes across a bit like “starter Ardbeg.” The peat is dialed back on the nose, which allows notes of crisp brine, toasted marshmallow, and hints of nutty sherry to emerge. The palate finds sherry-driven citrus dominating, with tea leaf and a rounded vanilla character creeping up behind it. Peat weaves in and out of all of this, along with notes of grapefruit, gingerbread, and some more raw petrol notes that linger on the finish. All told, it’s a bit of a melange of flavors that, if not exactly “starter Ardbeg” then at least comes across like “greatest hits Ardbeg” — a mix of this and that that feels at times like a blend of leftovers that didn’t get used in other expressions. That’s not totally a bad thing, really. Infinity bottles are fun for everyone! - drinkhacker.com

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2011 Ardbeg Single Cask No.3063 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1999. 00
Bottle
$23988.00 Dozen

ABV: 63.3%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

Filled on 19th October 2011, this rare single cask was released exclusively for Ardbeggians in Australia. Described as "a ripper of a dram", Cask no. 3063 was created during a period of experimentation at the distillery. In order to mastermind a malt with a new flavour profile, Dr. Bill Lumsden filled new x-Bourbon casks at higher alcohol levels than normal. Suffice to say it worked… and the result is an outturn for the outback with a unique herbal complexity, all the way from Ardbeg to Adelaide and beyond… Labeled as an Australian Exclusive, we have one unit only from the total yield of 202 bottles. 63.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Delivery Information
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- Nick's Import
Ardmore Legacy Lightly Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$84. 99
Bottle
$1019.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Legacy was introduced in 2014 as a replacement for Ardmore Traditional. The combination of 80% peated and 20% unpeated malt promises a medium bodied Speysider with smoky, spicy edge.
Tasting note: Gold / pale straw hue. Pedestrian aromas include tea biscuits, light vanilla and haystack. A featherweight entry leads into a medium bodied, grassy, grainy mid palate. Finish is woody, thin, grippy and medium long followed by a moderate aftertaste. The peat is barely discernible. No-thrills entry level malt. Best with a little water. 40% Alc./Vol.
Founded in 1898, Ardmore have an unshakable belief in traditional distilling methods and insist that their Traditional Cask bottling uses the aromatic smoke from natural, Highland peat fires to dry their malted barley. The high cost of this procedure has meant that Ardmore is now the only Highland distillery that still routinely fully ‘peats’ its standard malt. Traditional methods also extend to the maturation. Casks for Ardmore's standard bottling for example, are double matured, first in the more usual oak barrels and then in much smaller ‘quarter casks’, delivering a unique integration of flavours. In common use in the 19th century, quarter casks have also become too costly for most distillers to employ today (The system has been used to spectacular success at Laphroaig).

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
Ardmore Port Wood Finish 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$124. 99
Bottle
$1499.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

A 'double casked' Ardmore, matured in x bourbon barrels and European half port pipes resulting in a liquid that's light and sweet with a balance of fruity, smoky notes. Comes non-chill filtered.
Notes from Ardmore... Earthy and clean soft peat, rich and sweet red berries and strawberries slowly turning into sour candies, vanilla and honey and wood smoke at the background. Initially smooth with a long lingering finish culminating in the trademark Ardmore dryness. 46% Alc/.Vol.

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Ardnamurchan AD/ Sherry Cask Release 2024 Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50%

The importer tells us that these Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask Releases have a slightly different barrel makeup each time. The distillery is offering them annually to differentiate them from previous versions - hence '2024' in the title. Likely more mature stock is added each vintage, and no doubt their skills in blending the final whisky are honed as the liquid matures. The much-anticipated second edition has been bottled from a parcel of 15 unpeated ex-sherry Hogsheads and 10 peated ex-sherry casks filled in 2018 and 2019, including nineteen Oloroso butts and two PX butts. The deep mahogany colour shows their influence which comes through as a wonderful medley of red fruits, bonfire smoke, brine and dense nutty sherry. It will leave you wondering how a young whisky can taste so 'old'. This West Highland gem is becoming preferred over sherried Islays for many peat heads. The only question is, will Ardnamurchan sustain the quality over time? 21000 bottles produced. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The Sherry Cask Release is once again a success; the sherry is evident but does not overpower the distillery character with smoky fruitiness. The whisky has a lot to offer and shows that a strong sherry influence does not have to lead to sticky sherry bombs, but can produce complex whiskies. Another Ardnamurchan that is extremely enjoyable. - whiskybase.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Murray mint, bonfire on the beach, salted peanut ice-cream, tomato stalks, Brazil nut, sundried tomatoes, teriyaki beef jerky, relish and tamari. Unctuous. Palate: Tarry rope, bung cloth, smoky bacon, old tractor shed, peanut brittle, sticky spare-ribs. Red plum and cherry, then shifts to chalk cliff and meaty traits above on later half. Finish: Crashing waves, sea-salt, bothy fireplace and cigar shop.

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Ardnamurchan Single Malt Scotch Whisky Gift Pack (4 x 50ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

This set of miniature tasting bottles from Ardnamurchan Distillery is perfect for discovering their core single malt along with their more adventurous releases. The pack includes one 50ml bottle of each of the following:
AD/ Core 46.8% ABV - Offer signature coastal characteristics with peat, fruit and marshmallows.
AD/ Rum Cask 50% ABV - Bright and full of tropical character, complimented by a touch of salinity and earthy peat.
AD/ Sauternes Cask 50% ABV - Apricot jam and marzipan notes balanced with a dry, savoury finish.
AD/ Sherry Cask 50% ABV - Complex flavours of a mix of dried fruit and nuts from Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry butts, and coastal peat smoke spirit.

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Ardnamurchan AD/ Cask Strength 2024 Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$139. 99
Bottle
$1679.88 Dozen

ABV: 58.3%

"...this release, for me, is their best so far...sweet peat, citrus blasts and a delicious lingering note of coastal smoke that just hits the spot." - dramface.com
Following the sell-out inaugural 2023 release come 7222 bottles of Ardnamurchan's cask strength 2024 edition. The barley variety used in this batch is Concerto from Broomhall farm which underwent a 76 hour fermentation. 87% was peated. Matured in American standard barrels (90%) with a couple of sherry butts thrown in the mix, the whisky was decanted on 19th April 2024. From the outside, it looks almost exactly the same as the 2023 edition (the only way you can tell one bottling from the other is variations in the ABV or by scanning the QR code on the back label). What's inside promises another very individual Highlander - a style described as the 'Kilkerran of the West' and compared to young Ben Nevis blended with older Talisker - in other words, a rare combination of maritime peat, tangy citrus, warm oak and seaweed salinity that makes for one of the most charismatic young single malts on the market today. 58.3% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... On one of the most recent Dramface podcasts, our man Rob mentioned his ‘hot take’ was that ‘the best peated Scotch doesn’t come from Islay’. I agree. Some of my favourite peated Scotches come directly from the Highlands and display exactly the balance I seek out. From Ardmore to Benromach, I love it. Yet this Ardnamurchan Cask Strength might top them all, which is saying something. After sitting back on this style for so long, this release, for me, is their best so far. I’ve found each year brings just a little more enjoyment, flavour and grip. Maybe more mature stock is added each time? More skills in blending the final product perhaps? Whatever it is, they’ve all been solid and thoroughly enjoyable, but this one edges last year, just a bit. The Ardnamurchan spirit and foundation is there, with sweet peat, citrus blasts and a delicious lingering note of coastal smoke that just hits the spot. - dramface.com

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Ardnamurchan AD/ Sauternes Cask Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50%

Not only have Ardnamurchan been busy celebrating the distillery turning ten years old, they've also launched their first ever Sauternes cask malt. It's made up of unpeated spirit initially matured for over five years in first-fill bourbon casks before being transferred to Sauternes barriques for an additional 2.5 years. Clocking up eight years in oak makes it one of the distillery's oldest releases to date. Bottled at high strength, the batch equates to 6000 bottles across the globe.
For those who don't already know, Sauternes is a famous Bordeaux wine region synonymous with the world's finest sweet white wines. No surprise then that the secondary ageing adds another twist to the Hebridean spirit - a nose full of apricot jam, almond flakes, marzipan, brioche and dried stone fruit, followed by a finish that's less sweet than the nose, wonderfully balanced and slightly dry with some of that classic Ardnamurchan salinity shining through. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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Ardnamurchan AD/ Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$109. 99
Bottle
$1319.88 Dozen

ABV: 46.8%

The latest release from Ardnamurchan is also their first core range bottling. Simply named "AD/", the batch numbers have been removed, with a redesigned front label featuring the Ardnamurchan lighthouse. 25,200 bottles are on offer worldwide - which sounds like a lot - but it's allocated in Australia. We've grabbed as much as we could. The whisky remains an equal split between peated and unpeated spirit, with 65% bourbon cask and 35% sherry maturation.
Building on the profile of previous editions, AD/ is something akin to Ardmore-meets-young Talisker with a splash of Ledaig thrown in for added depth. The first sniff finds grapefruit, citrus, pepper and saline to the fore with a fabulous coastal / low-key peaty drift that develops as rock-pools then earthier, farmyard notes of lucerne mulch and lanolin. You realise there’s something a bit special about AD/ at first taste; mostly, it's the remarkably sprightly nature of the delivery. It's also relatively dry by Highland standards, so you have to roll it around your mouth to extract more of the fruity malt sweetness (strange as it sounds, winter strawberries come to mind). Vivacious, briney and minerally, with sugar sprinkled grapefruit to finish, some bitter dark chocolate too, AD/ is easily one of the more complex young malts money can buy and a whisky that truly conveys a sense of place - the fact that they’ve already nailed a very distinctive style in itself seems like a near impossible achievement. 46.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Nose - Toasted marshmallows on a pebbled Fascadale beach, minerals, orange oil and popcorn. Palate - Salted popcorn, smores, pebble beach, mineralic, sea salt, briney, lime cordial, charred marshmallows, bitter orange, dark chocolate, smoky old fashioned cocktail.

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- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Arran Machrie Moor 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $149.99
$129. 99
Bottle
$1559.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Arran ten year old now comes with a puff of smoke: It's the newly presented Machrie Moor matured for a decade in first-fill bourbon casks, and the third in a series of light to medium peated styles offered by the distillery. Described as a bit of a chameleon that changes in the glass, it is something like a Port Charlotte only with less smoke and more fruit - or perhaps more like a Campbeltowner? The nose delivers what the label suggests - peat, only in a dry, non-confrontational manner that becomes more polite and fruity after air contact. The most likeable thing about this whisky is the twist on the palate. Expecting something peaty, instead you get a delicious fruit-salad; the juiciness of the malt makes for a sweet, succulent finish before leaving you with an oily, warming, brine and pepper tang. Nice coastal vibe. We're heading towards Springbank rather than Laphroaig. Tasted from a 30ml sample. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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- 93
Arran 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND
$899. 00
Bottle
$10788.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not shown.

Arran are one of the first of the 'new wave' of Scottish distilleries to reach maturity. To mark that watershed, they've released 3000 bottles of their oldest expression to date. Now sold out at the distillery, it has been eagerly anticipated by those already enamoured with the superb 18 & 21. And if you're surprised by the price, consider the massive hikes for similar age statements from Macallan, Highland Park, Ardbeg or Balblair et al. and it actually compares very favourably. The 25 year old is set to become an annual offering, although outturns will remain minimal (no doubt they're reserving a portion for even older releases in the future). Impressively housed in a timber presentation case, it comes matured in 35% ex-sherry and 65% ex-bourbon casks, but was also allocated twelve months in first-fill and refill sherry hogsheads. Like most other Arrans, it's bottled at 46% without chill filtration or the addition of any colouring.
Other reviews... The oldest in Arran’s core range has a warm, inviting nose of sweet vanilla, poached pear, and crème caramel, with a flurry of wood spices, ground pepper, and nutmeg grated over rice pudding. Rich and syrupy-textured, with honey, fudge, black pepper, and gentle oak building up to a peak of crystallized ginger followed by Seville orange peel, vanilla, ripe apricot, and apple. A mouth-coating finish of ginger and honeycomb toffee. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...The bottle is superb, the price maybe a little less so. This is a combination of bourbon and oloroso, further married for one year in sherry hogsheads. What's sure is that this is the oldest Arran I've ever tasted. Colour: copper/amber. Nose: starts with a bowl of sour cherries and a clear vinosity, on old barriques and a little balsamico. I'm also finding many red berries, which come totally unexpected, raspberries, mulberries, also rosehip, dried pears, whiffs of dunnage, blood oranges, drops of fino… This is not what I was expecting, on the other hand I think it worked, it's just, well, very singular, with obvious wine impact. Mouth: cherry clafoutis, once again, cherries in kirsch, then mead and triple-sec, elderberry syrup, and a feeling of arrak. Then more blood oranges, more eglantine tea, and just preserved morellos. Are we sure this has never met with a single dollop of pinot noir? Finish: medium, with a little more malt and raisins, café latte, butterscotch… I short, it fell in line. A salty touch in the aftertaste. Comments: let's keep an open mind, this is not what we were expecting from a new 25 yo, but it's not lacking courage and opinion. The idea was strange but it was well executed. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... Nose – Rich oak with a gentle nutmeg note. Sweeter aromas of baked ripe figs, sultanas and black cherries. Palate – Fruit cake with toasted almonds and cinnamon. The juicy zestiness of oranges and mandarins mellows perfectly with manuka honey, muscovado sugar, baked apricots and an interesting white pepper note that provides even more complexity. Finish – Creamy and spicy with dark chocolate, walnuts and dark fruits compote.

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Arran Barrel Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

As of late 2019, all the Arrans sport new packaging, designed by London agency Stranger & Stranger. The label now features iconography in the shape of Arran Island, with a pair of native eagles enclosed by 'ripples' reflecting the island’s mountain waterfalls. This entry level expression shows off Arran's house style; Soft aromas of vanilla and pineapple pudding follow with delectable pear strudel and vanilla malt flavours before finishing creamy, with a touch of coastal tang. There's decent weight and mouthfeel at 43%, while the overall balance remains spot on. A profile reminiscent of older Glenfiddichs, and very easy to like. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... White peach, juicy green pear, vanilla, and green tea meet the fresh aromas of clean sheets flapping on the clothesline in a crisp spring breeze. The palate is silky and light-bodied, sweet with biscuity malt, toasted almonds, cantaloupe, and milk chocolate; a few drops of water evoke oily sprays of lemon, grapefruit, and orange. Creamy and nutty on the finish, sprinkled with toasted almonds, bittersweet oak, and a whiff of tobacco. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com

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- 90
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $109.99
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

"...tough to put down. It’s a stellar base for elevated Scotch cocktails, too." - drinkhacker.com
Nominated as one of the twenty defining whiskies of the past twenty years by Malt Advocate back in 2013, this new incarnation of Arran 10 opens slightly woody and acidic on the nose developing attractive honeyed, chocolatey notes. On the palate, American oak underscores the malt; juicy orchard fruits and vanilla shine through in a fresh, spicy delivery. The finish offers stewed pears and hints of cinnamon. Uncomplicated but very tasty. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... We last reviewed this whisky in 2012. Today the whisky is sweeter than I recall, the honey and nougat characteristics more immediate and vibrant on both nose and palate. Fresh, heathery granary notes give the palate a sense of the earth, with rolling notes of sweet breakfast cereal, a spritz of grapefruit peel, and just the lightest hint of rosemary. Definitely nutty on the finish, though my mention of almond notes 10 years prior is less distinct today, perhaps owing to the healthy slug of sweet honey that gives the whisky its exuberance. A light touch of green herbs returns on the finish — again, evoking rosemary. Arran 10 may not be overwhelming in its complexity — but it is, to be sure, tough to put down. It’s a stellar base for elevated Scotch cocktails, too. - drinkhacker.com
...Honey and fresh pear mingle on nose and palate of this single-malt Scotch from the Isle of Arran. Adding water cools the singe of alcohol heat and brings out a hint of smoke. Finishes light; sip or mix. 90 points - wineenthusiast.com
[Previous packaging] Launched in 2006 as the first mainstream Arran bottling with an age statement, it is sweet and malty on the nose, with fresh-planed wood and toffee apples. The palate is fruity, with ripe banana, honey, vanilla, coconut, and wood spices. Spicy orchard fruits and malt in the relatively long finish. Well-balanced and eminently drinkable at this age. The quality has improved since earlier bottlings.
87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2018)
Gold Medal 2019 World Whiskies Awards
Gold Medal - 95 points IWSC 2019

Delivery Information
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- 94
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Arran Sherry Cask The Bodega Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Isle of Arran, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $159.99
$129. 99
Bottle
$1559.88 Dozen

ABV: 55.8%

"...great surprise. Smart work on this one." - whiskyfun.com
One of the highlights in the new-look range, this harkens back to some of the earliest Arrans which were mostly matured in Sherry casks. Ginger snaps, cinnamon and fruit'n'nut dark chocolate aromas follow with a lovely dried fruit aspect (figs, dates, apricots). Bold but balanced; drier in the mouth than the nose suggests with fresh dried fruit flavours, leaning towards apricots. Pepper, cinnamon and ginger bread spice up the medium long finish. A flavoursome 'contemporary' sherried style that's different to traditionalists like Glendronach or Macallan. 55.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The nose leans sweet with dulce de leche and dark berry jam, but it's countered with dark chocolate, dried rose petals, and a faint whiff of talc. The palate is thick with raisins, figs, candied ginger, orange peel, Concord grape jelly, rose oil, cocoa, and peppery spice, while the lengthy finish has persistent white pepper, dried ginger, chocolate, and burnt citrus. Dense with flavor thanks to its total sherry-cask maturation; give it time to fully reveal its depths. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Apparently, this is some young (7 or 8) Arran that's integrally aged in first fill sherry. So, hit or miss… Colour: deep gold. Rather pale despite the pedigree. Nose: fully, totally and integrally on damson pie or, as we say here in Alsace, tarte aux quetsches. A handful of Smyrna raisins too, raisin rolls, sweet ale… Pretty simple, but flawless this far. With water: gears towards ripe plums and jams. Preserved greengages and mirabelles. A very tiny bit of sour wood in the background, which is just nothing. Mouth (neat): I'm reminded of some batches of A'Bunadh, if that rings a bell to you. A little rough and hot, but pleasantly raisiny. Stewed peaches, pepper, cinnamon, raisins, fruitcake. A classic variation everywhere in unpeated Scotland. With water: well it takes water very well. Lovely sweeter, fruitier spices, Szechuan pepper and all that. Also those cherries that we had also found in the 25. Finish: rather long, rather fresh, with more raisins, Szechuan pepper, and overripe damsons! Comments: great surprise. Smart work on this one. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Double Gold Medal - 98 points San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024
The nose brings notes of honey, orange, sweet raisins, cherries and sponge cake. On the palate, the fruitiness continues with added notes of dried figs and limes. Notes of cacao and sherry follow with a hint of soot and a spicy finish. Category Winner - World Whiskies Awards 2025

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Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Auchentoshan distillery is located in Clydebank, in the heart of the Lowlands whisky region. Auchentoshan employ a triple distillation method, an unusual process which sees the spirit enter the cask at a staggering 82% Alcohol by volume. After maturation and bottling, the whiskies are typically light, fruity and pristinely balanced. In simple terms, they're dangerously drinkable and offer the devoted whisky drinker a 'go to' malt for warmer weather and the gift buyer an ideal choice when unsure about someone's whisky preferences.

Auchentoshan Three Wood is matured initially in bourbon casks before being finished in Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez casks for an extra layer of rich, sweet fruitiness.

Tasting note: Bright burnished copper appearance. Initial nosing reveals aromas of spicy malt and mild vanilla. There are hints of dried fruits too. Basically a nice integration of Bourbon and Sherry influences that gives both a showing. The palate offers good concentration with medium dry, peppery, biscuity malt flavours leading into a juicy raisined finish. Concludes dry with a pleasant spiciness lingering. At the drier end of the whisky spectrum. 43% Alc./Vol.

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Auchentoshan Solera Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 48%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.

Finished in legendary Pedro Ximenez casks, this is the darkest Auchentosan we've ever seen. It's said to be one very tasty Lowlander, very chocolatey, with almonds, Toblerone bar and orange chocolate flavours. Bottled at 48% Alc./Vol. with zero chill filtration.

Other reviews... A wonderful Auchentoshan sherry with a perfectly matched strength. Intense, deeply rich, harmonious, bright, but not at all like the standard profile of the distillery. However, I am sure that with such great sherry casks not only in the Lowland but also in the Speyside region, any unpeated whisky will have the same stunning sherry profile without any hints of the signature character. At times it seems that many years old natural Oloroso casks were used here, and not PX, this profile is so similar to that one. Noble Oak was chosen for the pairing precisely because it used Oloroso casks. The sherry part of the Noble Oak profile is also very good, but not as bright and powerful as Solera. But it does not suppress the aromas of the distillate typical of Auchentoshan, in particular, fresh, vegetal, spicy, woody and mineral notes. This adds a few more layers, making the Noble Oak profile significantly more diverse. It may be strange, but I like both of these releases equally, despite their cardinal differences. - whiskybase.com

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Aultmore of the Foggie Moss 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Aultmore is located in Keith, Banffshire. Its name is a derived from the phrase 'An t-Allt Mòr'', Gaelic for big burn, referring to its water source, the Auchinderran burn. It was founded in 1895 by Alexander Edward, then owner of the Benrinnes distillery. In 1998, after a patchy history, the distillery was sold to Bacardi subsidiary, Dewars, which had previously owned Aultmore between 1923 and 1925. Aultmore produced their first official bottling, a 12 year old, in 2004. The house style is typically light and fruity with most of the wood employed being American oak.
Tasting note: Pale gold. Minor sediment. Ripe pear and apple tart followed by hints of hay; the aroma is partly obscured by the tingly spirit lift. Almost the concentration of a cask strength with big beefy malt and a peppery attack. A little thin and acidic towards the finish, but nice underlying drier styled malt peeks through. Some light water biscuit and dried grass notes in the aftertaste. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews...The youngest bottling in Dewar’s new line up of malts from its Aultmore distillery, near Keith, this expression offers a nose of peaches and lemonade, freshly-mown grass, linseed and milky coffee. Very fruity on the palate, mildly herbal, with toffee and light spices. The finish is medium in length, with lingering spices, fudge, and finally more milky coffee. 3 Stars
- www.whisky-pages.com
86 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015
4 Stars - www diffordsguide.com

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Whisky and Scotland inseparably intertwined.

Made from the most elemental of ingredients, water and 100% malted barley, Single Malt Whisky has become inextricably woven into the fabric of Scotland's history, culture and customs. Indeed, there are few drinks which are so closely related to the land of their birth than Scotch (even though most distilleries nowadays are not actually owned by the Scots.)

Malt Whiskies, which differ considerably in flavour according to the distillery and region from which they come, tend to have a more pronounced bouquet and flavour than grain-heavy blended whiskies. By definition, malt whiskies are also single distillery, made by the one distiller in the one location. They offer something blends generally don't: a sense of time and place that translates into a one-of-a-kind flavour sensation influenced by the water source, the shape and size of the stills, the type of cask, age and the degree of peating. If you're new to whisky, it's worth reading our Scotch Whisky primer here.

How Single Malt Scotch suddenly became so popular...

90% of the single malt Scotch produced continues to be used to make blended whisky, and the proportion was once much higher than that. Glenfiddich's famous 'Special Reserve Pure Malt' was the whisky that introduced and popularised the bottling of Single Malts to the world. Glen Grant, Macallan and others followed suit and in the 1980s malts started to gain a reputation as a 'more authentic' product than blends. At the same time, the popularity of vodka and other spirits began threatening the market share. In response, blenders dropped their prices. Unfortunately, consumer's perceptions of blended whisky were also lowered. A sense of snobbery developed against the 'cheap' and 'inferior' blends. Unjustified as this was (and remains), it was a sequence of events that helped prepare the way for the current Single Malt boom. So successful has the rise of Single malt been that the industry has found itself in a position of deficit. Older malts are becoming increasingly rare and pricey, partly accounting for the present trend of N.A.S. ('No Age Statement') bottlings and limited edition collector releases.

Shop Australia's biggest range of Single Malt Scotch, with many of the best prices too...

Nicks Wine Merchants boast the largest range of Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the Southern Hemisphere - shipped almost any where in Australia. Everything from luxury big name brands, to unusual independent bottlings, cask strength and single barrel releases and limited editions. Subscribe to our Spirits and Liqueurs Email Newsletter to keep up to date with new arrivals, whisky tastings, special offers and more.

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