4738 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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Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $124.99
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

It's been over a decade since we've revisited the Balvenie range. From the 12 Year Old, right up to the venerable 30 year old expression, the house style emerges as one of the lightest and most delicate to be found from Speyside with almost no peat evident. 'Doublewood' gains its character from maturation in two woods, transferred from traditional x-Bourbon American oak to a Sherry oak casks for its final maturation. It's sometimes described as the classic, "essential" expression in Balvenie’s core range. From a 30ml sample, the nose is lifted with vanilla, dilute honey and dried fruits. The entry is featherweight, unfolding into a medium-weight dram with moderate flavours of dried fruit and a warm mouthfeel. An aftertaste of dried grass and drying oak sustains a little prickle. All up, this is uncomplicated and typical of the distillery style, but even at 12 years old, Doublewood still tastes surprisingly young. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The whisky has not much changed in recent years. As noted in 2022, the whisky leans heavily on the bourbon barrel, offering a nose with lots of sweet almond and banana notes, backed up by fresh cereal and granary characteristics. That said, it’s less overtly woody than I recall, coming across instead as rather grassy and hay-like. Citrusy sherry notes are present, but as more of an afterimage. On the palate, again the whisky favors the bourbon influence, with ample vanilla dominating flavors of sweet breakfast cereal, namely Frosted Flakes. It’s extremely mild and approachable, though things can get a little leathery on the back end before the orange-driven sherry character finally appears. It’s mild and gently spicy, and nothing if not harmless. While not the most memorable whisky on the market, I expect you’ll finish your dram just fine. - drinkhacker.com

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Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch No.1 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$1499. 00
Bottle
$17988.00 Dozen

ABV: 47.1%

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

The Balvenie Tun 1509 follows in the footsteps of the legendary Tun 1401 series, which collectively set the whisky world alight by intriguing both anorak and collector. This was no mere blending exercise of varying cask types as many expressions have, and continue to achieve today. Its significance lied within its make-up, with the now retired David Stewart, selecting dominant cask types - many quite possibly outstanding in their own right - of both ex-sherry & ex-bourbon from decades past (60's, 70's, 80's etc) , to marry . To highlight the substance behind one of these creations; Batch 1 of Tun 1401 was a six cask vatting of - a 1973 Sherry Butt, a 1972 Sherry Hogshead and American casks from 1966, 1974, 1978 and 1988.
After almost manic demand worldwide the '1401' series ceased after 9 batches which were spread across world markets. In 2014, Tun 1509 was then commissioned, quadrupling 1401's 2,000L capacity, to combat global demand and to finally produce a worldwide release. Balvenie's Global Brand Ambassador; Sam Simmons had maintained the new tun will be capable of producing a similar recipe to that used for Tun 1401, just on a larger scale.
This first instalment of Balvenie Tun 1509 comprised of 42 casks, including 35 American oak barrels and seven European oak Sherry butts. As with 'Tun 1401', all the casks have been allowed to marry together for a period of several months. This release has otherwise sold out globally. Only 1 bottle available.
Other reviews... This newbie from Balvenie is the worldwide replacement for the market-specific Tun 1401. A larger volume vat (8,000 liters) is now being filled with an equally eclectic mix of casks (42 casks ranging from 1970 to 1992). Deep amber; this has substance but being Balvenie, it’s gentle: orange blossom/Manuka honey edged with spice, marmalade, scented woods, and a little frangipane. The palate shows a supple, rippling power with some apricot, cinnamon, and root ginger. Awfully good.
91 points - maltadvocate.com (Winter 2014) Reviewed by: Dave Broom

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- 90
Balvenie Port Wood Finish 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$450. 00
Bottle
$5400.00 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Spurred by the success of his original distillery venture, Glenfiddich, William Grant set about expanding his business empire with the purchase of Balvenie New House in 1892. The Balvenie distillery has now been owned and managed by William Grant and Sons as a staunchly independent and family owned operation for over five generations. Nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, still malts in its own traditional floor maltings and still employs coopers to tend the casks and a coppersmith to maintain the stills (although some would argue this is all solely show for the tourist value it offers). Regardless, successive generations of skill on the malting floor, in the tun room and the still house, in the cooperage and the warehouses do seem to have preserved a consistency and remarkably high quality of The Balvenie down the years.

It's been over a decade since we've revisited the Balvenie range. From the 12 Year Old, right up to the venerable 30 year old expression, the house style emerges as one of the lightest and most delicate to be found from Speyside with almost no peat evident. Following the success of the limited edition Port Wood 1989, David Stewart, Balvenie's Malt Master has continued to select a number of traditional whisky casks of Balvenie considered perfect for further maturation in Port Pipes. It is for many critics and drinkers the quintessential Balvenie expression, winning numerous Gold Medals and the trophy for Best Whisky in Class at the 2009 International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Tasting note: Bright gold appearance. A gorgeous, lifted bouquet features a cherry-chocolate top note over deeper scents of vanilla and oak. Cherry-chocolate remains the signature note even after extended exposure. Like the 15 Year Old, this is a light to medium bodied, seamlessly integrated Speyside dram, with a graceful mouthfeel. The Port Wood adds suggestions of dark chocolate and hints of marzipan. Spices pulse delicately at the finish before the drying cocoa aftertaste. A wood finish executed with a soft touch. 40% Alc./Vol.

'Some of these finishes can be overdone and the whisky spoiled by an unsubtle use of the second wood, but this was created by the hand of a master. Delicate port wine flavours dance around the inherent spirit quality in a mesmerising and quite beguiling fashion...this is a stellar achievement.' - Ian Buxton, 101 Whiskies to Try Before you Die.

Other reviews…. The Balvenie Aged 21 Years Port Wood (88.5) t22 Salivating and on the money malt wise with the juicy chewiness a lot fresher than the nose would have you believe; f22.5 busy, multi layered with some lovely praline amid the soft grape; b22 beautiful subtle malt… Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2011

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- 90
Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$154. 99
Bottle
$1859.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

A new Balvenie, matured for 14 years in traditional oak casks before being transferred to Caribbean rum casks. A match made in heaven for some!
Tasting note: Deep amber gold. Soft, plush aromas of toasted marshmallow followed by vanilla custard tart, toasted cereals and clove, echoe in a light to medium bodied, vanilla-malt profile with hints of dried fig, rum-like sugars and delicate toasted cereals towards the finish. Perfectly balanced with featherweight spices adding vibrancy. The lightness of the Balvenie spirit lends itself to wood finishes. This one works. 43% Alc./Vol.

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Balvenie Distant Shores 27 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$1899. 00
Bottle
$22788.00 Dozen

ABV: 48%

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

The Balvenie 'Stories collection' is designed to bring to life the tales of "character, endeavour and craft" of those at Balvenie through the generations. This expression is not the first time Balvenie have employed a rum maturation. In fact, rum has been a part of their whisky-making for almost two decades. Serge Valentin at whiskyfun.com observes, "Don't you think this is a funny situation, whereby some distillate that was in-cask-blended with some heavy rum would remain a single malt whilst the same distillate allegedly 'teaspooned' with some light malt whisky from the same town would not?" Regardless of what you think about Scotch Whisky legislation, the rum in question is at least a very special one.
When the Master Distiller, David C. Stewart was introduced to some rare Caroni samples by Spirits salesman, John Barrett, the Balvenie team were so impressed that an order of Caroni rum was placed on the spot! Stewart later aged Balvenie in the x-Caroni rum casks for something off the beaten track.

Barrett explains "As a distillery, Caroni simply produced stunning, stunning rum. Most of it was originally used with stocks from other Caribbean islands to blend. But after the distillery closed, the stock remained. Soon after that is when I acquired what I did and transferred it back to the UK." According to Stewart, "...this Caroni cask finish is really unusual. This rum, its qualities, the wood... I haven’t ever experienced a rum finish quite like this one. The flavours speak for themselves: Rich hints of muscovado sugar and manuka honey on the nose, then lighter soft fruits and spice. On the tongue it’s got this real velvety viscosity. A sweet beginning unfolds into treacle toffee, aged leather and deep oak tannin. The finish is long and sweet, and gives wonderful mouth-coating oiliness.” 48% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews....
A little perplexed. Feels a little like more Doritos whisky, any flavours and any variations, as long as it's legal. I mean, as long as the proprietors of the brand names are okay with it, why not a Hampden finish, a Worthy Park finish, a Neisson finish, a Foursquare finish, a Bielle finish, a Bellevue finish, a Port Mourant finish, a Diplomatico finish, or an Enmore finish (spot the odd-one out)… Anyway, let's see if the mirabelles resisted the diesel oil… Colour: white wine. Nose: not a slaughter, they did it smartly, even if these whiffs of two-stroke benzine do feel a little out of place. My problem is that I love these smells of… say old Kawasaki. The mirabelles are still there having said that, and so are the quinces. Whiffs of concrete, hay, straw, wormwood, just a drop of seawater and one of olive oil… Well I just don't know how they managed to keep it balanced. Mouth: more Caroniness on the palate, which, on malt whisky, generates… a feeling of peat. Some tar as well, perhaps a little rubber, tarry olives… and rather greener, unripe fruits. Green bananas for example. Finish: long, dry, a little astringent but not unpleasant. Comments: they just shouldn't tell us. Remember the saying, it's like the law or mortadella, you shouldn't know about how it's made. It's a good drop, but you cannot escape the feeling that you could do these kinds of meta-blends yourself, with a good pipette. 85 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Rich toasted oak dusted with chocolate and cocoa notes, creamy vanilla bean, and hints of clove and cinnamon spice cover a deep layer of dried fruit and citrus peel. Taste: Elegant vanilla, dark chocolate, dried fruit and creamy caramel top layers of rich malt and oak. Finish: Velvety with a long delicately spiced caramel mocha note.

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- 90
Ben Nevis Coire Leis Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Launched in late 2021 and named after a loch where the distillery's water source starts, Coire Leis is a no-age statement expression matured in first-fill bourbon casks for between 8 and 10 years. While it resonates with Ben Nevis' signature qualities (oily, full bodied), it's lighter in colour and not as heavy or textural as the standard ten year old. Orchard fruits come wrapped up in soft spices and some of the distillery's well-rounded, beefy malt character is captured. The finish isn't particularly long, and it tastes younger and less integrated than the tenner, but this is intended as an introduction to the distillery style, and it achieves that well. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Nice story about some rocks around the distillery, not to mention waters and springs, but it's still only NAS. Shall we call it an access-Ben-Nevis bottling? Colour: pale white wine. Nose: big on porridge, mash and pears, plus dough, leek, eggplant, fennel, soot and mead. Some vanilla too. Feels really young and probably cleaner than your 'average' BN. Mouth: very good maltiness, with burnt herbs, burnt honey, then Ovaltine, then dried fruits and burnt fruit tartes. Some sweet peppers and some mustard too, this is well Ben Nevis, probably boosted with some rather active wood. Finish: long, rather rich, full of toffee and Ovaltine. Malty beer, spicy liquid caramel, cardamom… Comments: not much to add, this modern, extractive, boosted version of Ben Nevis works very well, it's even got a Japanese side (how surprising). By the way, did you ever read Compton Mckenzie's novel "Ben Nevis goes East"? Nah it's got nothing to do with whisky... 82 points - whiskyfun.com

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Benriach The Sixteen 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$159. 99
Bottle
$1919.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Benriach's signature style blossoms at ten years old, finding depth and richer layers of orchard fruit character as it turns sixteen. Three cask types are employed in this edition: Bourbon, Sherry and Virgin oak. 43% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... NOSE: Baked apple and creamy hazelnut malt with overtones of ginger-spiced apricot and honey. TASTE: Spiced stewed apple, stone fruit and mellow nutty oak, with honeyed malt and candied peel. SMOKE LEVEL: Trace.
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL - 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

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- 87
Benriach The Smokey Ten 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Other reviews... A replacement for the 10 year old Curiositas, this was aged in a combination of bourbon, Jamaican rum, and toasted virgin oak casks. The early nose yields light peat smoke, with hand-rolled tobacco, then tropical fruit and cigarette ash. On the palate there’s stone fruit, spices, vanilla, new leather, smoldering peat, and dark chocolate. The finish offers oak, black pepper, salt, and earthy peat. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith 2020

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- 95
- Reduced
Benriach The Thirty 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $1,199.00
$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

"A complete whisky." - whiskyadvocate.com
Along with its younger expressions, The Twenty One and The Twenty Five, The Thirty represents Benriach's “refreshed” core range. The acclaim for the new age statements has been undivided and consistently high, including some of the highest ratings in recent memory from whiskyadvocate.com. Though not always operational since its inception in 1898, the distillery has amassed a huge cask inventory meaning hundreds of distinct barrels can be blended into thousands of new whiskies. Currently, owners Brown-Forman have allocated this responsibility to Master Blender, Rachel Barrie. She's focused on maintaining an “orchard fruit-laden” profile, while also pushing to create more varied products, often with varying degrees of peat input. 'The Thirty' is her latest, and arguably greatest achievement to date. Like the rest of the new range, it comes matured in four cask types: x-Sherry, Bourbon, Virgin Oak and Port. The combination of Fortified wine and complexing smoke left one taster comparing it to "...mature port wine that's sat in a glass next to someone who was recently smoking a pipe." Extremely limited stocks.
Other reviews... Benriach digs into the vaults for this rare gem, and it’s a tour de force. The maturity shows at once, with an antique note of well-aged peat char and dark sherried aromas of dried figs and raisins. The palate offers flavors of cooked berries and baked apple, along with candle wax, dark chocolate, and roasted espresso beans. It all finishes with rich chocolate, old spice rack, and a parting note of ashy peat. A complete whisky. 95 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming 2021
...This orange-gold 30 year old single malt explodes with an array of dried fruits, toasted nuts, and warm spices, while a present, but unobstructing, savory smoke maintains order and structure in this spirit that is still very much alive. 92 points - Excellent, Highly recommended - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021

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- 88
Benriach The Original Ten 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$84. 99
Bottle
$1019.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

A Bourbon, sherry and virgin oak matured expression in Benriach's new presentation. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... It presents tropical fruits, vanilla, honey, and ginger on the nose. Soft fruits, malt, and milk chocolate inhabit the creamy, well-balanced palate. Hazelnuts, drinking chocolate, and light spices surface in the medium-length finish, with just a wisp of smoke. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith 2020.
....A pleasant nose layered with pears and honey proves smooth on the palate where ripe quince mingles with vanilla and barley malt on a delightfully smooth palate. Behind the scenes, a bare whisper of smoke infiltrates to bring structure but not dominate. 92 points, Excellent, Highly Recommended - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021
...Nose: Juicy peaches right away mellow into cereal grains, but also the fresh loveliness of baked goods. The finish has the brightness of strawberry and the tartness of raspberry. Palate: The body is light all the way through. Just a touch of that fruit up front, bright, juicy peach and red grapefruit. This warms and sweetens to the back palate with note of red wine and cocoa. These great scotch distilleries are capable of a great range of flavors, even under the 15 year age mark, and these still stand out. The Original Ten has more flavor upfront and clearly, while The Twelve has similar flavors but deeper and richer. BenRiach is known for a touch of smoke across even their unpeated expressions. I didn’t get any of that from the Original 10, but it came through in The Twelve. Score: 4/5 - thewhiskywash.com

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Benriach The Smokey Twelve 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$114. 99
Bottle
$1379.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Ranked number 3 in Whisky Advocate's 2020 Top 20.

Other reviews... Benriach is a sleeper of a single malt, but that’s about to change. Part of a 2020 relaunch of its core line, this grabbed our attention with its sophistication, breadth of flavors, and lovely refinement. Much of the credit surely goes to master blender Rachel Barrie for creating a smoky whisky that both peat lovers and the peat-wary can enjoy. Rather than medicinal intensity, the peat is redolent of gentle, sweetly smoky fruits that integrate seamlessly with notes of vanilla, toasted almond, chocolate, blueberry, and bacon. It beckons like the wafting smoke of a warming autumn bonfire, then welcomes with its lush and velvety embrace. Number 3 in the 2020 Top 20.
94 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Winter 2020)

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$599. 00
Bottle
$7188.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.8%

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

Bottled at 46.8% this member of the Benriach stable is non chill filtered and with no colour added.
Other reviews... Great balance between vibrant oak spice and lush, sherried fruit. Interwoven notes of honeyed malt, vanilla, citrus fruit, milk chocolate, and lingering peat add complexity. Quite large for a BenRiach and very fresh for its age. This whisky takes BenRiach to a higher level. 90 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Spring 2007) Reviewed by: John Hansell

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Benrinnes 21 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$599. 00
Bottle
$7188.00 Dozen

ABV: 56.9%

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

Rarely seen on our shelves, the Benrinnes house style tends towards a heavier malt that's mainly matured in European oak. This special cask strength Diageo edition was limited to 2892 bottles worldwide.
Other reviews... Meaty, beaty, big, but only slightly bouncy. The nose is initially reminiscent of curried mutton with an added heathery earthiness and some distillery sulfur. It then dries into biltong/pemmican with some faint barley notes behind. The water adds a note of fresh coriander. Massive in the mouth, with raisin, roasting tins. It’s a relief when water releases some surprisingly soft treacle toffee sweetness, but it’s not quite enough to balance the massive meaty assault. 84 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Winter 2014) Reviewed by: Dave Broom

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2012 Benromach Contrasts High Enzyme Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Here’s a novel Benromach that marks a first for the distillery: Released in early 2025 in the UK and made using unpeated barley with a high enzyme content (otherwise employed for the production of Grain Whisky or in industrial brewing). A contrast to the usually robust and slightly smokey Benromach, this is instead a fresher style with fruity facets and sweet and savoury notes, including apple aromas, lots of citrus fruits, sweet pineapple and honeycomb as well as notes of jasmine and peppermint. Distilled in 2012 and aged for twelve years, it comes bottled at 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... A playful series by Benromach, featuring some relatively classic elements (more peat) and some more unusual ones, such as a comparison of kiln-dried and air-dried oak, or this high-enzyme malt, which is usually used to produce grain whisky. This is what is called high-DP malt with a lot of nitrogen (DP = diastatic power), and it’s used to convert the mash into fermentable sugars. Typically, about 10% is added to grains like maize or wheat. It’s worth noting that in Scotland, the use of additional enzymes in other forms is not allowed, though it’s permitted elsewhere. Let’s taste this high-DP malt, which should be sweeter and maybe even a little sugary… Colour: white wine. Nose: indeed, it’s very sweet, evoking bottled apple juice, an enormous pile of marshmallows, and touches of very vanilla-forward oak. It feels quite far removed from those slightly ‘dirty’, robust, and smoky Benromachs we love so much. Mouth: yes, it’s sweet, with plenty of apple again, marzipan, grapefruit, and above all a rather noisy oakiness. A standard Benromach would normally handle such situations brilliantly, but this baby Benromach (if I may) struggles a bit with the wood. It almost reminds one of a young Auchentoshan. Finish: medium length, with a hint of orange and perhaps papaya, then more apple juice and a lingering sensation of wood, almost like sawdust. Comments: not bad at all, really, but perhaps best suited for our friends who already have all the ‘normal’ Benromach expressions on their shelves. And remember, it’s only experimental. 82 points - whiskyfun.com

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Benromach Contrasts Virgin American Oak Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Another flavour variation in a series that focuses on 'contrasts' is this 2024 limited-edition matured in Virgin American oak - an emerging trend in European whisky. While not for everyone, virgin oak casks impart wood-forward flavours that beckon to fans of American whiskey. Aged for ten years, expect notes of dried banana, Seville orange and butterscotch. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Quite light to begin with, doesn’t jump out from the glass, making it hard to nail down. Vanilla custard, strawberry laces, a hint of warm hay. Palate: Buttery and pleasant with a bit of banana. A slight note of flamed orange and toasted malt as the sip progresses. Finish: Well rounded, with a sugary note. Comment: Perfectly pleasant and easygoing, a gentle weekday dram. - whiskymag.com
...the new oak isn’t overdone and the end result is simply a very quaffable whisky. - whiskynotes.be

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2011 Benromach Contrasts Double Matured Bordeaux Wine Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

A Benromach initially matured in first-fill bourbon casks, followed by five years in Bordeaux red wine casks. This results in delicate honey and floral aromas, forest fruits and toasted oak flavours with soft peat smoke on the finish. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... If they must. This one baby spent its last 5 years in wood in 'Bordeaux wine casks', so it's double maturation instead of finish, although they would write both on the label. I suppose it was red Bordeaux but they wouldn't tell. Many people believe Bx is red, but you can have them in all colours. Sauternes is Bordeaux too. Colour: gold. Nose: all right, it is not about red berries, bell pepper and stuff. We're leaning towards fresh cakes, brioche, cut grass, and also a bit of cooked ham. These ham notes are quite unusual, especially to this extent. Mouth: yes, not bad at all! A bit of strawberry jam this time, as well as green pepper, bay leaves, small salty and smoky touches, bitter oranges, and then a slightly unexpected fino-like side. In short, we're not on raspberry and blackcurrant liqueur, thankfully. Finish: quite long, indeed pleasant and ultimately rather coastal. But Bordeaux is located by the ocean. Comments: nice, just perhaps not something to replace the... classics. 83 points - whiskyfun.com

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2014 Benromach Contrasts Peat Smoke Bourbon Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$129. 99
Bottle
$1559.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Two exceptions to the Highland standard are mainland distilleries that use peat for their entire output: They are Benromach and the newly re-opened Brora. Ardmore is the third smokey Highlander, but they also offer an unpeated malt for the blended market. At Benromach, most of the barley is peated to around 10-12ppm, but for a few weeks of the year they dial that up dramatically. This latest instalment sees the phenol levels peak at 57ppm (that's higher than Ardbeg!) Bottled in 2023 and matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, the whisky boasts fragrant vanilla notes, which lead to lemon sherbet and apricot, finishing with smoky bonfire embers. It's what some tasters describe as "the dirty side of Speyside". 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered

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2012 Benromach Contrasts Air Dried Oak Virgin Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The second in Benromach's limited edition series investigating drying methods is this ten-year-old bottling matured in air dried Virgin Oak barrels. A cooperage will usually air-dry lumber for a period lasting a few months to a few years, depending on the oak species, its moisture content and its future use. This process not only allows the moisture to evaporate from the wood gradually, preventing any cracking or splitting, but also lets any tannins and other unwanted compounds in the wood break down. In this example, focusing exclusively on air-dried oak brings sweet vanilla fudge aromas and smooth yet peppery flavours of vanilla, fresh peppermint, oak and subtle smoke. 46% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... The idea is to showcase different methods of drying the oak before making barrels, and their organoleptic effects. In this specific case, the planks were air-dried for 36 months, which seems to be the most traditional method in coopering for whisky. Naturally, this is first-fill 'virgin' oak. Colour: gold. Nose: well, you do feel the oak, its spices, especially curry powders, cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, as well as a lot of pencil shavings. All this is certainly pretty different, but very pleasant too, while it seems to me that they've used some gentler distillate. Then we find the usual softer custard and caramel cream, crème brûlée and so on. Mouth: great fun, this is totally oak-driven, but the sweet spiciness is working extremely well. Bananas stewed in cinnamon sauce, with more nutmeg and curry. In other words, bananas flambéed in India (ha!) Finish: medium, all on sweet spices and some cedarwood that gives it a mentholy and piney profile in the end. Comments: not sure whether this was full maturing or matured in virgin oak for three years or a little more, but I'm rather fond of the results, even if they remain a tad 'too modern' for this traditionalist (*). 83 points - whiskyfun.com

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2014 Benromach Contrasts Peat Smoke Sherry Cask Finished Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$139. 99
Bottle
$1679.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

A slightly richer expression in the Contrasts series is this eight year old, first-fill sherry cask finished edition, peated to 57ppm and only produced in small batches. The combination results in sweet vanilla and stewed fruit aromas, citrus and summer berry flavours, ending with peat smoke and ginger. It's a profile that's been described as "...very close in style to some Springbank 12YO". Whiskyfun's review below is for the 2022 release, however the specs remain almost identical, so expect similar thrills with the current bottling. 46% Alc./vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... This sherried variant is brand new while the malt was peated to 55ppm this time, a rather Tufnelian move. Colour: gold. Nose: we've come much closer to the regular 10 this time, with these lovely acetic, meaty and very fermentary notes, with some Tabasco, onion soup, Worcester sauce, then dried fermented fish and touches of hoisin sauce. Would you please pass the Peking duck? Mouth: ah, hurray, good dirt! And cracked pepper, leather, tobacco, Grisons meat, cold-smoked German (or Alsatian) sausage, marmalade, coffee and cocoa dregs, cinnamon and paprika… A lot of action in this one again. Right up my alley. Finish: long, with a little more toffee, raisins and bean curd. Comments: not a peat bomb at all but this time it is clearly ' smoky malt'. Excellent wild composition, on par with the fantastic regular 10 in my book. 88 points - whiskyfun.com
...Nose: A smoky and heady sherry greeting. Black treacle and orange peel draw you towards the aromatic end of things; a tobacco pouch, beeswax, sandalwood, damp leather and woodshed. There’s a savoury side too and, helped by the smoke, it comes off a little like bacon crisps. Time and a drop of water brings a little plum and dried fruit along with the citrus theme. Palate: The smoke, spice and sherry all arrive in decent and balanced proportions, but none are particularly compelling. A jagged sharpness existed on the first glass or two from the bottle, but that’s been tempered in the open bottle. It’s softer than I remember from the uncorking. Black pepper has moved to softer spices such as cinnamon and a little background char. There’s a heavy and dark honey laced with sweet oranges amongst a pot pourri of sweet and ripe citrus. It has a medium finish that dries to a slight bitterness. - dramface.com

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Benromach Contrasts Cara Gold Malt Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

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

ABV: 46%

Presented in early 2022, this limited release in the 'Contrasts' series is made using Cara Gold barley- a crystalised malt from Crisp Malt, one of the UK’s largest malting companies. More commonly used in brewing, it's not a variety, as Laureate or Optic are. Instead its name refers to the kilning specification - i.e.- it's heated longer than regular malted barley (which reminds us of Glenmorangie Signet). In the mix is 12ppm peated malt. All the liquid is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. It brings something genuinely new to Benromach's portfolio and has garnered lots of positive reviews online. Expect tropical fruit and malted biscuit aromas complemented by notes of pineapple, juicy apricot, black pepper, toasted malt, butterscotch and smoky honey throughout the palate. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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- 91
Benromach 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$275. 00
Bottle
$3300.00 Dozen

ABV: 43%

A mix of first fill ex-Bourbon and first fill ex-Sherry casks were used to create this rich, lightly smokey malt.

Other reviews... An entirely different, indeed, lost style of malt from the old, now gone big stills. The result is an airier whisky that has embraced such good age with a degree of panache and grace. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021

Notes from Benromach... Aromas: Sweet Sherry aromas with underlying citrus, ginger and oak notes, accompanied by a touch of smoke. Palate: Sweet initially with cracked black pepper, Seville orange and raspberry flavours lead to baked apple and subtle spice. Finish: Charred oak and soft smoke. 43% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
- 90
Benromach Contrasts Triple Distilled Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

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

ABV: 46%

A triple distilled Benromach, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. It’s the second time the distillery has offered a triple distilled malt. The latest iteration is now bottled at 46% as opposed to 50%. No doubt it takes its inspiration from what Hazelburn is for Springbank. The first distillation takes place in the wash still, after which it passes through the spirit still twice. The result is a smoother, lighter contrast to Benromach's typically butch, oily distillate. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... I can't help but compare this to the Benromach 10 Years, which I think is a classic, and it can't entirely keep up. The Benromach 2011 Contrasts: Triple Distilled is more narrow and, most importantly, lacks the oily deliciousness that I just love about Benromach. As a standalone whisky it's very good, and it's encouraging that there's still and old school feel to it, just try to forget about the core range Benromach 10 Years. - wordsofwhisky.com
[50% Alc./Vol. bottling tasted] Pale gold. Floral openings present a grassy edge, developing bitter cocoa and sponge cake after air contact. A few drops of water ups a fruity aspect (poached apple / pear) and accentuates the sweet spices. Tasted neat, it's slightly tongue nipping, but broadens and softens towards the fruity, tingling finish. Best with water. 90 points

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- 93
- 94
Benromach 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$169. 99
Bottle
$2039.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Fabulous - the mouthfeel is a genuine delight. One of the favourites at our recent tastings.
The 15 year old has a similar maturation regime as the 10 year old expressions (9 years in x Bourbon and x Sherry casks), however the final 'finishing' in x Oloroso Sherry barrels is extended to six years instead of just one. The peat input is very discreet in this bottling. Deep polished copper penny colour. Opening notes hint at baklava followed by honey drizzled weet bix, digestif biscuit plus a fruity overlay that suggests tangerine peel and dates. Concentrated, yet beautifully rounded in the mouth; supple malt entry over a background of purring spices. Mid palate delivers a superb juicy flourish of stewed fruits, citrus peel and trace peat. Dries with peel, ginger bread and short bread enlivening the aftertaste. Fabulous - the mouthfeel is a genuine delight. One of the favourites at our recent tastings. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Taste this and tell me if you are being seduced or not. 94.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
...A new member of the core range, this has a cinnamon spice nose with wood smoke elements that grow into hickory as it opens. There’s also sandalwood, citrus, and dried fruits. Medium-bodied and juicy, there’s light sherried notes on the tongue, alongside perky acidity, especially with water. The smoke has better integration on the palate, allowing tangerine and sultana to come through. G&M’s aim has always been to make a classic pre-60s Speysider, and that’s achieved here. 85 points
- www.maltadvocate.com (Fall 2015) Reviewed by: Dave Broom
Best Speyside Single Malt Scotch at the World Whiskies Awards 2018.
Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020.

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- 92
Benromach Contrasts Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$129. 99
Bottle
$1559.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

References Glenmorangie Tusail (less the $150 price tag).
A world-first when it was launched in 2006, this unpeated Benromach is certified Organic from start to finish, meeting rigorous UK Soil Association standards for growing the ingredients, distillation, maturation and bottling. Previous releases were enthused over by Jim Murray who described the first edition as "An absolute treat!" 91 points, followed by an even more glowing review for the 2008 - "The most astonishing explosion of intense barley and oak. More orgasmic than organic!" 93 points
This expression is around eight years old and comes exclusively matured in virgin oak casks.
Tasting note: [43% batch tasted] Glossy gold. Dazzles in the glass, forming thick legs. Creamy, almost oily bouquet, oozes fruity malt and vanilla with wonderful purity. Hints of grainstore and hay bail are detected in later passes. Light and easy on entry developing depth and texture; in fact, probably one of the creamiest barley deliveries you're likely to find: A juicy, nutty, oily malt with flavours of beeswax and shortbread heightening at the finish. Beautiful whisky that emphasises mouthfeel over complexity. References Glenmorangie Tusail (less the price tag). A simple pleasure.
Other reviews... Topaz color; completely sediment free appearance. There’s a pleasing fruitiness/ambrosial quality in the first inhalations after the pour that remind me of nectarine, Bosc pear and/or quince; the orchard fruit aspect remains evident in the second passes following more aeration, plus I encounter additional scents of parchment, green tomato, and heather. Entry features the semidry, surprisingly evolved flavors of dried fruits (nectarine and pear, in particular), green tobacco, crème caramel; midpalate flavors are sturdy, sweeter than the those at entry, honeyed, biscuity, sugar cookie-like, and maple-like. Finishes medium long, gently sweet, sappy. Shockingly evolved for such a young malt whisky. - Highly Recommended - www.spiritjournal.com

Delivery Information
- 92
- 87
Benromach 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$109. 99
Bottle
$1319.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Category Winner: Best Speyside Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the World Whisky Awards 2017.

Sometimes described as one of Speyside's "Best kept Secrets", and no wonder given the sheer class vs scale of the operation: Benromach is managed by just two workers and runs at a maximum capacity of a mere half million litres annually. Prior to this, in 1983 it was mothballed and it wasn't until a decade later that the distillery was acquired from United Distillers by Gordon and MacPhail. Production recommenced in 1998 with whiskies peated slightly higher than other Speysiders at around 8-12ppm. Since that time there have been myriad releases and an output that consistently receives high praise. According to whisky writer, Dave Broom, G&M’s aim has been to make a classic pre-1960s Speyside style: across the range, the integration of the smoke and malt is seamless and judicious, allowing the fruity spirit to shine through. Always some of our most liked Speyside whiskies at tastings, the entry level 10 year old is where the fun starts, recently awarded Best Speyside Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the World Whisky Awards 2017. Move up from there to sophisticated wood finishes, a world-first organic malt and a cracking cask strength expression. Whatever your preference you’re guaranteed to find something to love here, else stop drinking whisky!

This is 80% ex-Bourbon / 20% ex-Sherry matured for 9 years, followed by 12 months in an Oloroso Sherry cask for the tenth year.

Tasting notes: Pale gold appearance. Gorgeous aromatics with a sultry amalgam of poached pear, dried fruits, dark chocolate and the gentlest wafts of peat. Aeration draws out hints of baked apple and sweet spices. A clean, crisp malt delivery supported by lively spices; fine threads of smoke and a delicious fruity edge; sweet barley dovetails into grassy, citrus freshness at the finish while light pepper warmth and sooty peat round out the aftertaste. Superb purity. One of a handful of 10 year olds that really engages, and with a price that places it in the top 3 or 4 values in its category.

Other reviews... For a relatively small still using peat, the experience is an unexpected and delicately light one. 87.5 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2017

The first 10 year old release containing whisky produced entirely by the new owners. I love the interplay here between the malt, sherry, and smoke, with all getting a chance to shine. A rich vanilla-tinged malty foundation, deep caramel, rhum agricole, an array of lush fruit and dark chocolate, along with grassy/hay notes, honeysuckle, subtle spice (cinnamon, anise), and lingering earthy smoke. A vast improvement from the “Origins” release last year. I would only make three changes to make this whisky even better (and elevate it to 90+ status): a couple more years on oak, bottling at 46%, and not chill-filtering it. Still, this is one of the best efforts from this distillery. Well done! 88 points (Vol. 19, #1) - www.maltadvocate.com, reviewed by: John Hansell

...Nose: Mellow, vanilla cream (Chantilly?), cinder toffee,fresh wood shavings,with time fresh coffee. Palate: Slightly bitter wood at first then bursts of spice,nutmeg,that cream is now a custard note,cooked apples. Finish: Spicy,long and warming. Comment: A good whisky that does not really give its age away. 84 points - whiskymag.com

Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020.

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1991 Berry Bros & Rudd Springbank 26 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Campbeltown, SCOTLAND
$5999. 00
Bottle
$71988.00 Dozen

ABV: 44.9%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
A very desirable Springa' distilled in 1991, then bottled by Berry Brothers & Rudd from single cask #455 in 2018. The company's spirits buyer, Doug McIvor has a reputation for high class barrel picks. This one comes with positive reviews. There's no reference to the kind of cask used, nor is the number of bottles produced stated. Non chill filtered and cask strength at 44.9% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... A complex nose of orange blossom and rose water, interwoven with brine, apricot jam, white pepper and lemon oil. Butterscotch, salted caramel and damp ash appear on the palate initially, with over-ripe orange, tinned pineapple, ginger and a whiff of peat building with time. The finish is long, with wood smoke and brine. Quite beguiling.

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Bladnoch 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$230. 00
Bottle
$2760.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.7%

Aged exclusively in Oloroso Sherry casks, this is said to be on of the richer Bladnochs bringing together notes of fruit cake, dark chocolate, and subtle sweet cinnamon on the palate. 46.7% Alc./Vol.

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- Reduced
Bladnoch The Dragon Series Iteration III The Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $220.00
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 49.9%

The Casks is the third iteration in the Dragon Series, this time highlighting the process of coopering. Crafting Bladnoch’s barrels requires consideration of the oak species, growth environment, and technical aspects of toasting, charring, and seasoning. This expression is bottled at 49.9% ABV and combines the richness of first-fill American oak bourbon wood with the complexity of first-fill Spanish oak Sherry casks, delivering a more robust profile that's been summed up as "...complex, herbal, grassy, spicy and a little alcoholic with the sweetness of jam and a significant sherry influence". (whiskybase.com) 49.9% Alc./Vol. 2000 bottles produced.
Other reviews... Colour: gold. Nose: I’m finding a touch of shoe polish and of course a good deal of walnuts, green or aged, a classic sherry marker. It then veers towards bitter orange, always a development I enjoy, and also a bit of modelling clay that takes one straight back to childhood. A few hints of soot and dunnage, even a whiff of hessian. Could there be a little peat in this baby? Mouth: it’s a bit like the bourbon version, only drier still, properly on green walnut and even ashes. Still that very grassy, tight character, this certainly wasn’t a sweet sherry cask, or so it seems. That said, we don’t really find any peat on the palate, the impression on the nose seems to have been but a fleeting moment. Finish: long, still on those notes of green walnut and modelling clay. Comments: I think I slightly preferred the bourbon version, which was more direct and fresher, but this drier, more sherried take is also very good. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

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- Reduced
Bladnoch The Dragon Series Iteration I The Field Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $220.00
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46.7%

"...a great thing that two or three distilleries—perhaps even fewer—continue to preserve this delightfully simple and cheerful style. " - whiskyfun.com
Bladnoch released The Dragon Series back in 2023 as a collection of five single malts, drawing inspiration from the Dragon Curve, a fractional curve in mathematics that showcases predictability and chaos, natural order and beauty. The concept was that after blending, each expression in the series should capture a pivotal moment in the whisky-making process, highlighting the scale of variability, while celebrating the beauty that can emerge along the way.
Number one in the series, The Field, tells the journey from field to distillery. Each year, barley is harvested and undergoes malting, serving as the primary raw material for the distillery. But before it arrives at the facility, it's already been shaped by diverse forces of nature, environment, and the malting process. Matured in re-fill bourbon casks, the resulting whisky is refreshing and sweet, capturing the essence of the paddock, with notes of toasted barley and floral cut grass, and a palate featuring a combination of citrus apples and creamy shortbread. 2000 bottles produced. 46.7% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This is a no nonsense Bladnoch, back to the basics with a spirit forward whisky which gives you all the tastes of the lowlands. - whiskybase.com
...One might often think that modern whisky is an industrial product, made in facilities run by two or three people and some quasi-quantum computers. But then you read this on Bladnoch’s website and feel reassured: ‘The Dragon Series showcases the scale of variability encountered throughout the process, which is seemingly chaotic and unpredictable.’ That’s exactly what we love, is it not? Colour: pale white wine. Nose: apple cake and lemon cake, neither quite baked enough, which really brings out the cereal and yeasty notes we always enjoy. A few spring flowers and very gentle touches of honey. Feels rather close to those Bladnochs from the 1990s, really. Mouth: indeed, very typical, somewhere between Fanta and 7Up, fresh lemon juice, then fresh barley and orange juice. Nothing chaotic here, I find this very much ‘Bladnoch au naturel.’ Finish: medium length, still on barley and citrus, with a finale of green apple and a faint touch of coffee. Comments: I find this very pretty and refreshing, and it’s a great thing that two or three distilleries—perhaps even fewer—continue to preserve this delightfully simple and cheerful style. 85 points - whiskyfun.com

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- Reduced
Bladnoch The Dragon Series Iteration IV The Ageing Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $220.00
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 51.5%

A darker colour and higher ABV are noteworthy on this, the fourth iteration in the Dragon Series, focussing on perhaps the most mysterious process in whisky making - maturation. The seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity, warehouse type and location, as well as the evaporation of the “angels’ share” all contribute to significant complexity to manage. For this edition, ageing took place in red wine hogsheads and first-fill bourbon casks chosen from the darkest and coldest areas in Bladnoch’s warehousing. On the nose, the scent of polished oak and honey come with an earthy undertone that suggests its warehouse origins. The palate features a sweet oak taste with wild blackberry notes. The finish is both sweet and warm, with a gentle spiciness. 51.1% Alc,.Vol.
Other reviews... quite sweet, nutty, creamy, malty, but blindly I would definitely guess the finish in rum or red wine barrels... I also smell butter cookies and some green herbs... - whiskybase.com

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- Reduced
Bladnoch The Dragon Series Iteration II The Spirit Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $220.00
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 48.3%

Number two in Bladnoch's Dragon Series, named 'The Spirit', captures the first stage of distillery production, taking the malted barley from the field through three pivotal processes: mashing, fermentation, and distillation. Each step amplifies the potential for variability, with numerous factors like gravities, temperatures, and cut points requiring an understanding by whisky makers, ensuring the consistent quality of the new make spirit. The resulting floral and fruity distillery character then moves on to the next stage – maturation in oak. Bottled at 48.3% ABV, 'Spirit' was drawn from a blend of first-fill and re-fill bourbon casks. On the nose, you might find pear drops with fresh cut grass, typical of Lowland styles. On the palate, expect malted cereals with boiled sweets and a hint of cracked pepper, while the finish is refreshing yet warm. In short, "a nice ex-bourbon profile." 2000 bottles produced.
Other reviews... We had rather enjoyed The Field I earlier this year (WF 85). They say 'The Dragon Series is a tribute to the timeless power struggle between science and nature' An idea that's no doubt causing quite a stir over in Washington D.C. these days. Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: dry as a stick, showing plenty of grassiness, porridge, a fair few oatcakes and a touch of earthy roots. A smattering of very small pears over in the fruit department, which speaks of youth. Mouth: fruity notes of barley syrup and baked apples to start, then we're back on porridge and grains, the whole thing growing more malty and rather taut as it goes. A few fruits that haven’t quite ripened, but that's just how we like it. The texture is on the oily side. Finish: of medium length, returning to grassy tones with hints of lemon zest. Comments: the focus on nature is clearly present, it would have gone down well with J.J. Rousseau. I just find this simply very good. 85 points. - whiskyfun.com
Honey, oatmeal, pear, vanilla and a hint of coconut. Nice ex-bourbon profile. - whiskybase.com

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Bladnoch Alinta Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$169. 99
Bottle
$2039.88 Dozen

ABV: 47%

This is the first-ever fully peated release in Bladnoch’s 205-year history, and at 55ppm with zero chill-filtration, it promises to be one of the tastiest Lowlanders ever! Since the distillery was recommissioned in 2015, a couple of weeks of the year have been dedicated to making heavily peated spirit but Alinta is the smokiest to date. Complimented by a combination of ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry and ex-Bourbon barrels and suitably titled by an indigenous Australian word that means 'fire', Head of whisky creation, Dr. Nick Savage adds “ ...it is an amazing balance of rich raisin-like sweetness and smoky campfire that sets it apart from anything else in Bladnoch’s selection of single malts.” 47% Alc./Vol.
Gold Medal at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2022 competition.
Other reviews... Weightier on the palate than you’d perhaps expect from a lowland. The peat is interesting. It’s prominent without being dominant. In fact, the overall feel of the whisky is one of balance. Bourbon, sherry, peat and fruity spirit all come through in equal measure, each having its moment to shine. A good quality whisky with layers of flavours to explore. - whiskyreviews.net

Delivery Information
- 89
Bladnoch Vinaya Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46.7%

At the time of writing, 'Vinaya' is the distillery’s widest release since the Lowland project was resurrected by Australian, David Prior and Head Distiller Dr. Nick Savage in 2015. The name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning 'respect and gratitude'. Says Dr.Savage, “As we embark on the 204th year of Bladnoch, the launch of Vinaya feels particularly significant. It is important for us to show gratitude to the previous custodians of this historic brand and estate as we move forward into our most ambitious year yet.” As for the whisky, it's matured in first fill ex-Bourbon and first fill ex-Sherry casks, which is a new combination for Bladnoch. Pale gold in colour, Vinaya is a bit sleepy on the nose, but teases out light apple, pear and vanilla. It's a spritely and youngish tasting malt with a faint backdrop of orchard fruits, developing richness on the back palate but overall remaining relatively tight, crisp and brisk, placing this in the realm of aperitifs. It's also one of the most affordable in the line up, so if you're looking to introduce yourself to Bladnoch's house style, start here. 46.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... [+/- 2020 bottling] My god, Vinaya, what a name. Why not Vinassery? Winganza? What's even odder is that this is classic ex-bourbon, with only a little 'old sherry' thrown into the mix. So despite the lack of age statement, there's hope here… Colour: light gold. Nose: mashed turnips, new sneakers, magazines, margarine (rather proud about that quasi-alliteration), then sourdough, leaven, soot and grist, which is obviously nicer. A tad tough but I rather enjoy this sooty side. Mouth: we're far from the old Bladnochs' fat citrus, but I rather like this newer style, which shows more oak spices, ginger, cinnamon, but also this doughy, bready, fermentary side that's always very pleasant in malt whisky. I have to check but this could well be my favourite recent 'cubist' Bladnoch. Talking about the bottle, not about the whisky. Finish: medium, on fresh bread and oak spices, with touches of rye. Of course there's no rye. Comments: good, I'm deeply happy, I know I've said bad things about Bladnoch, but this time I'm extremely positive. Great progress in Wigtown, humblest kudos deserved. 85 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from Bladnoch... Fresh apple, sweet floral grass, and hints of chocolate throughout the nose and palate.

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- 92
Bladnoch 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$220. 00
Bottle
$2640.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.7%

Aged exclusively in Oloroso casks, Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage is particularly pedantic about the barrel selections here, and it shows in what is an elegant, medium-bodied and well managed expression that's bestowed an attractive dryness from the wine input. There is a touch of 'old school' sherry character with precise and nutty oloroso also defined by delicious peel zest and a slightly salty, biscuity charm that by the finish, works into fruit'nut'nut dark chocolate, old leather, warming ginger and trace sulphur. A pleasing contrast to the sherry-bombs of Speyside, it's a whisky that aptly reflects that casks it was matured in. 46.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... This baby was born last year. According to the colour, this was not heavy/stuffy sherry. Colour: full gold. Nose: wood smoke and walnuts, both old and fresh, then roasted sesame and coffee-flavoured chocolate, which is not exactly the same thing as coffee and chocolate, mind you. Black nougat too, drop of miso, pipe tobacco from an old leather pouch (in other words, not wham-bam fresh pipe tobacco), and a growing meatiness. Ham and parsley, another winning combo and a great Burgundian specialty (jambon persillé). Mouth: walnuts, toasted cakes, tobacco, a little leather, a little pepper, certainly some nutmeg, a tiny cinnamon mint, some softer beef jerky, Nescafé (no worries), gingerbread… Once more, 46-48% vol. do make for a perfect strength. Finish: rather long, on cloves, walnuts, a little salt and, hold on, Mon Chéri! Sure I can quote brand names, I am not a professional. Comments: extremely good. Now, it's also true that I am a huge fan of olorosos (and amontillados), while this little Bladnoch made every effort to remain very close to that style of wine. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... fruit cake, dark chocolate, and subtle sweet cinnamon on the palate.

Delivery Information
- 94
- Nick's Import
Bowmore 16 Year Old Ruby Port Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Good to see age statements making a comeback in the Duty-Free scene. Some tasters considered this a high point in Bowmore's 'Appellations Collection'. Matured in American Oak ex-Bourbon and European Oak Sherry casks before being finished in Portuguese x-Ruby Port casks. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... this indulgent, satisfying dram is the standout in this collection. Assuredly peaty on the nose, with cranberry, strawberry bubble gum, black currant mousse, and fine spices. It’s soothing and smooth in the mouth, showing milk chocolate, fudge cake, brown sugar, and salty smoke, then a finish of chocolate lava cake and peat smoke. (Travel Retail exclusive) 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com
In a way, we have to admire the sheer nerve it takes to lob 16-year-old Bowmore into Ruby Port. I daresay that requires a certain leap of faith. Colour: ripe apricot. Nose: well now, this isn’t half bad either; this time we’re veering more towards PX territory. Black pepper and plump black grapes, geranium, sandalwood, lonzo sausage, and very dark potting soil... Mouth: naturally it’s been crafted with great care, the cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry are all present and accounted for, though they’re nicely woven into that beloved salty and smoky malt base. Still, it does lean rather sweet... Finish: fairly long but the red fruits begin to take over, veering into smoked cherry jam with hints of fir wood. Or something along those lines. Comments: this one gave us a chuckle, which is quite the thing in these times. It’s a bit like the Eurovision Song Contest. 82 points - whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 85
- Nick's Import
Bowmore 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$79. 99
Bottle
$959.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Other reviews... The latest addition to Bowmore's core range is presented at the unconventional age of 9 years. Matured predominantly in oloroso sherry casks, with some bourbon cask-aged spirit thrown into the mix. The result is a whisky featuring drinking chocolate, black pepper, and soft peat on the nose. Sherry and sweet peat notes merge nicely on the palate, with dates, plums, and light caramel. Smoky brine in the medium-length finish. 85 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Rather bizarrely, this bottle has been reimported from Spain. The colour is rather orange, even and not very bright, which always suggests that a lot of caramel has been added. Colour: gold/orangey. Nose: well, this is typical Bowmore, very coastal and briny, we're nosing a large plate of smoked oysters sprinkled with a little teppanyaki sauce. Or is that teriyaki? I always confuse those names, the sweeter one… A little cranberry juice too, even raspberry jelly. Where does that come from. Still a very nice nose, though…Mouth: not that light at 40% vol., very salty, with just these notes of caramel that would get in the way. Indeed, that caramel that you're not supposed to feel in Scotch whiskies… But that would also impart notes of salted butter fudge and that, my friend, just always works. This baby would then become a tad more unlikely, with some slightly rubbery nuttiness, possibly from some 'cheaper' sherry casks. Still good. Finish: medium and even saltier. Black olives with crumbles of fudge and some kind of grassy liquorice. No 'lavender', naturally. Only the aftertaste is a tad flabby and strangely cardboardy. Comments: forgot to mention pasta de sardinhas, a very Portuguese delicacy. And very salty Bowmore. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

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- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Bowmore Aston Martin Dark & Intense 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $114.99
$109. 99
Bottle
$1319.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

The first in a series of re-packaged Travel Retail single malts featuring the Grand Marque, Aston Martin. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Come on, really, an Aston Martin at 40% vol.? That's neither a straight-6 nor a V12, it's more a Cygnet (remember Google is supposed to be your friend). It's still advertised as being 'Dark & Intense', let's check that… Colour: golden amber. Nose: some walnut wine at first, plus horse saddle and old leather jacket, tamarind jam, marmalade, a little spent engine oil (and voilà), then ras-el-hanout and a little ginger tonic. Blood oranges. This rather leathery smoke works well I have to say, even at 40% vol. There's also the obligatory lapsang souchong and cocoa. Mouth: nice salty arrival, with lots and lots of walnuts and a cup of oversteeped lapsang souchong. Some grapefruit then, chicken bouillon, orange zests dipped into chocolate (orangettes), smoked oysters… All nice, the problem is that it would tend to nosedive after ten seconds, and that's strictly because of the minimal strength. An Aston Martin with an empty petrol tank (which is not an unseen situation). Finish: pretty short, what a pity. Some toffee. Comments: I'm absolutely sure that even at 43% vol. this would have been a winner. One solution though, find a young indie Bowie at 50-60% vol. and pour a few drops into this one. I'm sure it'll be fantastic. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

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Bowmore 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) - Older bottling

Islay, SCOTLAND
$2999. 00
Bottle
$35988.00 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Most notably, the original labelling on the outer box has completely faded away. Actual product pictured.
We place this 'old seagull label' 750ml Bowmore as being released in the early to mid 1990s. There were a few similar looking iterations from the same era, so the review below from whiskyfun is indicative only. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Colour: gold. Nose: very round and very rich, starting with more honey than both the 17yo that we had before and the latest 25. This richness and roundness almost ‘block’ the citrusy and coastal notes that are well there in the background but that seem to be a little shy… for now. From honey, evolves towards leather and cigarette tobacco for a while (‘a freshly opened pack of Camels – or maybe Chesterfields’), then meatier touches (bouillon) probably from the sherry casks, then rather camphor and eucalyptus… And it’s only after that that we get more peat smoke, sea air and tropical fruits (only hints of ripe mangos here). The latest 25 is much wilder, peatier and less polished. Mouth: very good attack but indeed, I can see why many friends thought that the old 21 was better. This is a little weaker (of course it’s not weak whisky at all) and maybe a little drier, with more oak and more ‘dry’ spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and white pepper. Notes of bitter chocolate, and then the classic tropical fruits but maybe a little more as jams than as fresh fruits. Great palate, though, maybe just a little less directly exciting than the 21’s. Finish: medium long, a tad drier now. Strong salted tea. Comments: excellent whisky but not totally up to the phantastik 21. The new 25 has much more violets and lavender on the palate but it’s still one point above this older one in my book because I feel it’s better ‘composed’. Yes, splitting hairs. 89 points - whiskyfun.com

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- 92
- 91
Bowmore 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$159. 99
Bottle
$1919.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Replacing what was formerly known as "The Darkest" this Bowmore age statement comes matured in Bourbon barrels followed by a three year stint in Oloroso Sherry casks. Expect flavours of dark chocolate, sun dried fruits and a wisp of Islay peat smoke, cedar wood and treacle toffee. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The nose features smoky caramel, dates, citrus fruits, and quite dry sherry. Dark chocolate and cocktail cherries on the rich malty palate, with peat smoke and a hint of dry oak balancing the sweet fruitiness. Sherry, brine, soft peat, oak, and allspice in the lingering finish. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
salivating: malty with a chocolate and raisin and fudge slowly massaged with the peat; more smoked caramel now with a hint of black cherry; a sherry influenced whisky outpointing a bourbon cask one...how often will you find that? 43% Alc./Vol. 91 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018

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- 88
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Bowmore Golden & Elegant 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $159.99
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

A big one litre Bowmore released for the Duty Free market in 2017, one of three in a series. As opposed to the standard 15 year old which is finished in sherry wood, this one is entirely first-fill Bourbon cask matured. Anticipate Bowmore's signature salty and slightly smoky profile with earthy peat, wood spices, honey, toasted nuts, sea salt and roasted fruits. Not quite a peat bomb, more as one taster comments, "a beach bonfire in your mouth" with a bit of everything happening, from honey to smoke and citrus and sweet oak. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The most most wonderful mix of peat reek and allotment fires....this was going swimmingly until the caramel just went nuts. I know first-fill bourbon casks are at work here, but hard to believe that was all natural. 88 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018
Gold Medal - International Spirits Challenge 2018

Delivery Information
- 91
- 91
- 91
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Bowmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $109.99
$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

"Easily by far the truest Bowmore I have tasted in a long while with myriad complexity. Even going back a quarter of a century, the malt at this age rarely showed such relaxed elegance." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
Other reviews… A great introduction to Bowmore's single malts, and one of the best 12 year old single malt scotches around. The nose offers tropical fruit, sweet smoke, a hint of brine, new leather, and floral notes. Peaches, honey, vanilla, and more full-on smoke on the rounded palate. Brine, cocoa powder, citrus fruits, and fading woodsmoke in the finish. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
"...far more representative of Islay and the old distillery style. Easily, by far, the truest Bowmore I have tasted in a long while, with myriad complexity... Most enjoyable. 91 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019
Nose: Emphatic burnt grass. Peaty. Soft smokiness. Palate: Fragrant smokiness seems to waft against an oily, earthy, background. Some seaweed. Some sherry. Finish: Not only is the smokiness sustained all the way through, it surges in the finish. Lots of salt, too. Comment: Glad to see a Bowmore with an age rather than a brand-name. 8.5/10 - whiskymag.com
The unabashedly briny opening bouquet is all peat, sea salt and salted focaccia; time in the glass serves to bring out a refined Sherry scent. In the mouth, it’s lean, surprisingly sweet and acutely resiny. Ends pine-like, resiny, moderately salty, fruity (yellow fruit, like yellow plum or banana) and semisweet. 85-89 points - wineenthusiast.com
San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold award 2018

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1977 Brora 38 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Special Release 2016

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$3999. 00
Bottle
$47988.00 Dozen

ABV: 48.6%

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

Since Diageo first commenced the Special releases in 2001, annual bottlings continue to thrill whisky hunters and tempt collectors. Stand out barrels are selected from the company's 28 operational single malt distilleries as well as two closed distilleries, Port Ellen and Brora. (Two grain distilleries are also in the mix).
If there is to be no more Brora (and it now seems almost certain that there won't be) it will be a terrible shame, but there are still bottlings trickling out. What is beyond doubt is that this will be a whisky aficionados are talking about decades after the last bottle is finally gone. The 1977 has a high standard to meet given the superb quality of previous editions. Collector's should note, it's also the oldest Brora to date released by Diageo. A massive score from Serge Valentin of www.whiskyfun.com. 2,984 bottles available worldwide.
Other reviews... Last year’s SR was already a 1977, and I just loved it (WF 95). 1977 and similar vintages never quite had the reputation of, say 1972, but now that quite some water has flown under the Scottish bridges, the complexity of those whiskies just stands out. Plus, it’s not impossible that Diageo have been rather picky with the casks they selected for these recent releases… Colour: refreshingly golden. Nose: oh f*** it. I almost feel like I should leave it all here, and rather taste the new Glenkinchie. This is like nosing the hot engine of an old Aston. Bakelite, castor oil, petrol, fumes, tyres… It’s not very expressive, in fact, but it’s one of the most elegant noses I’ve been given to put under my nostrils in recent months. Or perhaps years. Also love these whiffs of ‘old books under the rain’, carbon paper, manure, autumn leaves (under the rain as well), damp earth, moss… Oh and these notes of new electronics, when we used to unpack a new stereo, around 1975… And the camphor is there as well, a bit of seaweed (nori?), paraffin oil, perhaps tinned sardines… My my my! Mouth: I had thought it would have gotten a little shy – at least shier than younger expressions – but not at all, it still roars and kicks you. What’s really remarkable is how dry it is, it’s even drier than the driest manzanilla! Ashes, bitter green tea, liquorice extracts, artichokes, tar… You’d almost believe you’re eating tiger balm at times. Well, I imagine. More wax and paraffin as well, mints, perhaps a little tarragon, bitter almonds for sure… What a ride! There are even hints of very old Sauternes that’s integrally digested its sugar. Finish: long, still bone dry, with more artichoke and ashes. A sublime dryness. Comments: the opposite of all these new Kardashian whiskies that abound here and there. Philosophical whisky, perfectly blended. Same score as last year, but it needs no score, of course. It’s expensive whisky, but I find it a little depressing that the Port Ellen would be 40% more expensive! Don’t get me wrong, it’s the PE that’s too expensive, and not this Brora that’s too cheap! Anyway…
95 points - www.whiskyfun.com

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Bruichladdich Black Art 11.1 24 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$799. 00
Bottle
$9588.00 Dozen

ABV: 44.2%

Other reviews... So still pre-reopening juice (so Invergordon-Jim Beam Brands). Utterly love the blurb on the 'label' (well, the stencil), no stoopid AI could have ever written that true piece of post-modern literature. Colour: amber. Nose: it's on quince jelly, juicy sultanas, pinecones, a little talc, fond de taint, pollens, pink pepper and oregano, caraway, something syrah-y, pizza oil (I know that's not very romantic), tomato sauce, sage… An unusual construction that rather loses you, but it's full of (unlikely) charms. Mouth: I find this arrival weirdly spicy and woody. A lot of wood spices (oak, pine, fir), heavy spices, cumin and clove, lees, stalk… I know it's me but this is not my kind of concoction, not on the palate, even if brighter notes of oranges would then try to balance it all. Weird drink. Finish: long, bitter, sour and leafy. Almost some artisanal Italian bitter. Comments: I've always had troubles with the Black Arts. In the first place, I've never quite understood the idea behind them, but knowing that it's a highly successful line, I'll simply tip my hat to them and bow modestly before this modern art of doing bizarre mixtures. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 93
Bruichladdich 18 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$330. 00
Bottle
$3960.00 Dozen

ABV: 50%

Bruichladdich are known for the producing the most heavily peated Scotch you can find, but its core whisky, the Classic Laddie, is actually unpeated. Now, more than two decades after it reopened, the distillery is releasing its first 18 year-old as part of a high-end "Redefined" lineup with a classic bourbon matured malt. 50% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A whiff of wood smoke or char on the nose, creating an overlay to more classic notes of stone fruit, mango, red berries, apples, and vanilla. Still lots of fruited liveliness beneath the initial smoke, which develops more toward cigar box and cigar ash. The palate offers honeyed sweetness, crème brûlée, coconut cream, tropical fruits, red berries, and pepper spice. Smooth and mellow on the finish, but the flavors don’t linger long. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
This is the new one with the funny box and the hefty price (190€). Well, at least it's a conversation starter, which is already something. They mention terroir on the label, but I'm not sure all the barley comes from Islay; if it doesn't, that's a very liberal use of the term 'terroir' that they're employing. Anyway, marketers around the world are trying to invent new meanings for this word right now. In summary, they all claim that "terroir is what we do at home." Yes, of course... Colour: gold. Nose: it's quite deep but not ultra-expressive, a bit earthy and chalky, malty, more on a bread dough side, with hints of carbon powder, then more honey. It undoubtedly needs water. With water: beeswax comes out, fruit wines (the eternal peaches and melons), fresh raisin rolls... Mouth (neat): now this is very good, it starts with ripe fruits around peaches and oranges, with an immediate liquorice side. Also that fruit salad side that we so love in Bruichladdich. There's also a bit of wine but nothing too serious. With water: it's well-structured, fruity, with some citrus pastries. It seems younger than it is. Finish: medium length. Melons, guavas, sweet pepper, and always a few drops of indeterminate wine and a bit of wood/tea. Comments: it's not a very maritime Laddie, and the eighteen years don't really feel, but the quality is undoubtedly there. Be careful when you open the odd box, hold the bottle from the bottom (I almost got caught). 86 points - whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 95
- 95
Bruichladdich Octomore 14.1 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$270. 00
Bottle
$3240.00 Dozen

ABV: 59.6%

It’s the time of year for new Octomores, the ultra-peated annual whisky from Islay’s Bruichladdich. Now in its 14th instalment, the whisky comes in the usual three offerings. 14.1 was distilled in 2017 from a 2016 harvest of Scottish grown Concerto barley, malted to 128.9 ppm and aged for five years in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks before bottling at 59.6% Alc./Vol. Judging by the reviews below, this looks to be one of the better Octomores of recent times. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... On the nose, Octomore 14.1 delivers layers and layers of dense peat: sweet smoke with grilled pineapples and hibiscus tea, phenolic peat with peeled-out tires, medicine cabinet, a distinctly oily rubber, and savory charred aromas like a beach bonfire. The palate, while still driving home the peat, is nimble and zesty with oranges and lemon, toasted peppercorns, and a heavy dose of charred grains. The finish is long and much softer, with zippy citrus taking the lead. 95 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...look for a golden hue and mild vanilla and spearmint aromas. The palate opens with mouthwatering butterscotch and menthol, finishing long with a smoked maple-sugar effect, which ever so slowly tapers off. 95 points - wineenthusiast.com
...The peat-lover’s standby ... As bold as ever, the nose is intense with elements of baked apples and ample creosote, then a nutty quality that suggests smoked almonds. It’s quite harsh on the back of the throat at full proof so I added some water to temper it for most of my tasting. This is quite helpful, allowing notes of dried apricots, fresh toffee, and some coconut to come into clearer focus, the finish here less briny than I’ve encountered in past expressions, which I kind of miss. The coconut note lingers the longest, making me dream of a cream pie to pair with this. 119.2 proof. - drinkhacker.com
... Alert, we're losing peat, ha! Just like the others, it's been using Concerto barley. Colour: white wine. Nose: back to austere ones, it seems. A lorryload of chalk and plaster, beach bonfire, 'a huge ashtray late at night', tyres, coal, a bit of glue, some iodine… With water: rather more green vegetables than more wool or chalk. Rucola seems obvious. Mouth (neat): scalpel-like again, with more bitterness, loads of ashes, lemon skins, seawater, oysters, a little varnish… With water: we're closer to 13.1, with ashes and… salted tequila. Quite some nutmeg. Finish: very long, lemony, grassier, and always very ashy. Olive brine in the aftertaste. Comments: it's a little tough to have many Octomore in a raw like this and we're absolutely not done! Liked this one too. 87 points - whiskyfun.com

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- 93
Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$280. 00
Bottle
$3360.00 Dozen

ABV: 57.7%

Other reviews... A robust puff of smoke and tobacco leaf are met marvelously by sweeter, softer notes— lemon pound cake, cinnamon-sugar toast, red berries, and pomegranate. There’s tremendous char on the palate, but it’s balanced by a beautiful sweetness that’s akin to mint tea and campfire smoke. The finish has a hint of meatiness, plenty of pepper, coffee beans, and iodine, and it all comes together exceedingly well. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...The same 128.9 ppm malting and also 5 years old, but here the aging is all European, completed in 40% oloroso sherry hogsheads, 16% first-fill Amarone casks, and 44% second-fill Amarone casks. That explains the delightful pink color on this whisky, one of the prettiest I’ve encountered in a while. Much lighter and fruit-driven on the nose than 14.1, this whisky melds red fruits and berries with black pepper and mixed spice notes, leaning toward tobacco over time. The palate isn’t nearly as burly as the 14.1 is, though a drop or two of water is still a good idea to temper the hefty proof just a bit. Fresh biscuits and almond cookies kick things off on the tongue, more red fruit — here closer to strawberry — coming along in short order. While coming across as far less peaty than 14.1, the palate still has plenty of bonfire smoke and salty sea spray on offer, tempered again by strawberry cream, then a nougat note. Such a lively journey to go on. My favorite whisky in this lineup. 115.4 proof. - drinkhacker.com

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- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Bruichladdich Octomore 13.1 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $320.00
$260. 00
Bottle
$3120.00 Dozen

ABV: 59.2%

While some prefer Port Charlotte, you have to admit Octomore is rarely ever boring. We're now into the lucky thirteens of what is arguably the most heavily peated whisky in regular production. There are three variants on offer in this batch. 13.1 is a 5 year old (as usual), bourbon-barreled, and peated to 137.8ppm of phenols. Distilled in 2016 from a 2015 harvest, like all the other .1 editions, it's made using Scottish mainland barley. 59.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... No surprises here, as this release hits as very sharp and ashy on the nose, punchy with the notes of a big bonfire that’s been piled high with evergreen branches. The palate tempers the smoke a bit with notes of fruit, lemon and apple, oily and mashed into oblivion, then moving into a very briny finish that evokes smoked kippers and iodine, lingering just about forever. All told, there’s no shortage of smoke in the experience from start to finish, making for a fairly typical and traditional expression of this classic whisky, for better or worse. Water’s a plus here. - drinkhacker.com
...137.3ppm in this one. Colour: straw. Nose: immediately softer and fruitier than 12.1, with more lemon tarte, meringue, nectarines, even mangos, vanilla… Even the peat remains discreet, and so do seashells, seaweed and just anything coastal or medicinal. This is very intriguing, I would suppose the American oak was fresher, or at least more active this time. With water: naturally, it goes in the other direction once water has been added, the spirit of contradiction I would suppose. Olive brine, clams, olive oil, seawater, limoncello… Mouth (neat): rather back to big smoke, rubber and seawater, but there's a lot of some kind of grapefruit liqueur, Szechuan pepper, even a feeling of hops. Some deep-smoked India Pale Ale, perhaps… With water: it remains rather fruitier this time, with even more salty citrus, while the background would remain very ashy and drying. Indeed, ashtray-y. Finish: very long, very salty, with some kind of super-margarita. Indeed, a feeling of tequila, how funny is that? Comments: superb once more, but I enjoyed its brother's extreme purity even better. This 13.1 is already 'civilised', I would say. 88 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... A viscous texture across the palate, the feeling is of densely smoked grain which comes through like smoked granola with honeyed fruit. A second sip brings the opportunity to decipher the complexity on the palate, with smoked apricot jam, barley flour, peat embers and burnt heather balanced with gooseberry citrus and sweet Turkish delight. Oak chips, sugared almonds and chocolate-limes with spicy aniseed comes toward the finish. A drop of water intensifies the smoke and brings out the minerality of the whisky.

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- 94
2013 Bruichladdich Islay Barley Unpeated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50%

"...a truly memorable dram." - whiskyadvocate.com
The eighth release in the Islay Barley series was produced using barley grown on Islay in 2012 by farmers from seven island farms, dried, malted and distilled in 2013. Left unpeated and matured in a mix of first-fill American whiskey casks and x-European casks for a minimum of eight years, it's described as having aromas and flavours of honeyed porridge and lemon meringue pie. Like the earlier releases, each expression from the individual growing season is subtly nuanced; each a variation on the signature maritime-citrus, barley forward style that makes these bottlings popular year in year out. Non chill filtered. 50% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This expression, now in its eighth edition, showcases Bruichladdich’s commitment to Islay terroir. It’s an 8 year old in a world of double-digit age stated scotch, but you’ll never accuse this delightful whisky of being too young. Sweet biscuity aromas along with ripe peaches and pears lead to a creamy palate of lemon cake, candied orange, nougat and vanilla, all balanced by the wood influence and hints of salinity. Water brings out sweet nectar and honey. The finish is graceful, long, and lively, making this a truly memorable dram. 94 points —David Savona, whiskyadvocate.com
...Same set-up. Colour: a notch darker. Nose: fruitier, rootier, more expressive. Celeriac and fennel, sweet beets, gentian (hurray!) and whiffs of wee white pineapples. Hold on, viognier? With water: back to breads, grist and oats, plus white pepper. An unexpected turn of events. Mouth (neat): once again, a fruitier version after the 2012, with more jelly babies after the ginger mints and cinnamon. With water: same as the 2012. Finish: same, with some hot spices coming to the front. Comments: not much to add. This one's very marginally fruitier, but it'll all depend on the amount and type of water you'll be using. Let's make this clear though, I think they are great drops! 84 points - whiskyfun.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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