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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.
- 2022 Hazelburn 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 46%
Collectors note: Springbank's labels almost always arrive with minor wearing and markings, most often to the top of the front labels. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these whiskies.
Springbank's triple distilled spirit, Hazelburn has proven itself suited to a variety of maturations. Made from unpeated, air dried barley, this limited release of 3600 bottles is one of the darkest on record being a 70:30 ratio in favour of sherry casks. It's also the oldest Hazelburn we've encountered to date and quite possibly the oldest ever bottled. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... [2022 release] Colour: pale amber. Nose: to me Hazelburn these days increasingly seems to align around a 'diet Springbank' profile, but very much in the best sense of that concept. This leans loudly towards the sherry with a lot of hessian, cough medicines, wee sooty touches, Maggi, leather tobacco pouch and delicate waxy notes. Also some darker dried fruits, gamey meaty touches and bitter herbs. Excellent! Mouth: lovely arrival, rather on bitter herbal notes, salty and nutty sherry tones, more leathery and tobacco vibes and further impressions of sooty things, waxes, game meats and subtle cough medicines. Blind I would probably have just said a lovely Springbank. Finish: good length, on heather honey, candied almonds, salted liquorice, cough syrup and drier earth sherry notes in the aftertaste. Comments: rock solid, with a very 'Springbank' sherry profile but one that manages to show good balance and cleanliness. I am increasingly a fan of Hazelburn as the years tick by. 90 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Limit One per customer
2006 Hazelburn Oloroso Cask Matured 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$550. 00Bottle$6600.00 DozenABV: 54.2%Collectors note: Springbank's labels almost always arrive with minor wearing and markings, most often to the top of the front labels. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these whiskies.
Oloroso is a running theme with the Hazelburn limited editions. At least one blogger has celebrated this bottling as being one of the cleanest sherried expressions of recent times: "Finally a modern sherry cask that is close to flawless in terms of no leather, no rubber, no dirt, no sulphur - very nice". One for the very lucky few to indulge in and one of the bargains in this year's Springbank collection. 9000 bottles have been produced at 54.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
- Highland Park 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older BottlingOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$2999. 00Bottle$35988.00 DozenABV: 48.1%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
There have been a number of releases of HP 30 over the years, each with slightly different packaging and ABVs. This one was reportedly released around 2009. When Highland Park's robust and oily new make gets extended time in a high proportion of refill and first-fill sherry European and American oak casks, the resulting flavour profile is astonishingly complex. Expect the fudgy sweetness found in the more mature expressions, paired with layers of aromatic spice, dark chocolate orange and floral peat notes. 48.1% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... What can be more classic and classy than a thirty years old Highland Park? Colour: amber. Nose: burst with a blend of honey, or rather mead, sherry and liquorice as well as with whiffs or peat smoke. Develops more towards burnt brownies and toffee, and then we get quite some menthol and mulled wine (obvious hints of aniseed, for instance) before it returns to a more classical honeyness. It’s funny how the sherry comes and goes, maybe we could call this ‘echoes of sherry’. Ha, poetry! Tends to get a little less expressive over time, which is a little strange. Mouth: rich, fruity, assertive, with the sherry and the mint upfront and a development more on chocolate-coated orange zests, mead once again, lemon squash (unexpected in an old official HP), liquorice and a little peat once again. Finish: rather long, more on smoked tea, with some pepper coming to the front and a half-honeyed, half-vinous signature. Comments: it’s rather more nervous than expected and the first time I tried it blind, I thought it was the 25yo. I feel it’s less rounded and polished than earlier official 30s. Not so much of a classic, after all, but very good ‘of course’. Now, I think I like the 25 a little better. - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com -
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Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Plus Bonus Cask Strength 50ml MiniatureOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Comes with a bonus 50ml miniature bottle of the high-octane Cask Strength Release No.3.
Ranked alongside the classic malts, revered as a spectacular after-dinner drink and without doubt '...a malt to challenge any Cognac or Armagnac', Highland Park's house style is fragrant and floral with a smooth, honeyed character over hints of citrus and smoke. The phenol content of their proprietary malt is 30-40ppm but the remainder which is imported from Simpson's is unpeated. Employing roughly 20% first-fill sherry casks, the distillery is serious about quality oak, spending $20 million a year on wood alone, more than any other Scotch distillery - despite having a fraction of the output of some of the larger brands.
First released in 1979, the 12 year old remains the best introduction to the Orkney legend. A name change and packaging update took place in 2017. It's now called 'Viking Honour', adding to what seems like a never-ending series of Nordic themed labels. This special gift pack edition will please bargain hunters. It comes with a 50ml cask strength HP - a massive, extra smokey limited release bottled at a whopping 64.1% Alc./Vol!
12YO Retasted 2019 ...Surprisingly full at 40% ABV but loses vitality and flattens out towards the finish. Otherwise, mostly unchanged from our first tasting back in 2012. Subtle nashi-pear fruitiness combines with a judicious slap of peat and a spicy flourish. More peaty than some previous bottlings with drying brine, spice and smoke lingering. Closer to the HP style of 15 years ago.
Other reviews... "The sweet aroma is very inviting and draws you in closer to inspect the dram. The honey'd and vanilla fragrance takes a turn on the palate replaced by grass and pineapple. A lemon twist or two comes next with the peat smoke just teasing your senses." 91 points - drinkhacker.com
...This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
More Viking paraphernalia… Could we at least have Lagertha? Colour: gold. Nose: not my preferred style of HP either, but this is fresher, fruitier, more lively, even if the core is kind of similar. Bitter oranges, marmalade, ginger, ale, whiffs of pumpernickel bread, oak spices, a little leather and tobacco… Indeed I like this nose better. Mouth: no questions, this is more refreshing despite the ‘seasoning’ that’s a little too apparent to me. Pepper, oak spices, black tea, grass smoke… Nice earthy honey beyond these bitterish spices. Finish: medium, spicy, with an obvious tannicity. Comments: they seem to have used active seasoned wood too here, but the spices and the leather were better controlled in my opinion. But indeed I much prefer the brighter, distillate-driven HPs. Because what a distillate it is indeed! 83 points - whiskyfun.com
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- ABV may vary
- Packaging may vary
- Batch may vary
Highland Park 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$2799. 00Bottle$33588.00 DozenABV: 45.7%PLEASE NOTE: Packaging may vary from batch to batch
There have been a number of releases of HP 30 over the years, each with slightly different packaging and ABVs. This one was reportedly released around 2013. When Highland Park's robust and oily new make gets extended time in a high proportion of refill and first-fill sherry European and American oak casks, the resulting flavour profile is astonishingly complex. Expect the fudgy sweetness found in the more mature expressions, paired with layers of aromatic spice, dark chocolate orange and floral peat notes. 45.7% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... This edition is nothing short of an exquisite whisky. There’s no modern cask manipulation nor hasty finishing here – just great distillate filled into great casks which have then been highly sympathetically integrated after three decades of patience. Whilst the age of the whisky is apparent throughout with a palpable sense of highly polished oak - this never detracts from the fruity core of the spirit which runs from nose through to finish. The smoke influence is but a mere memory here - you’ll need to dig to find it - so if you like your heathery peat prominent this will not tick that box for you. However, as far as elegance and equipoise go – there is not a large number of whiskies of this style which will better this. - thedramble.com
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Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLANDReduced from $250.00$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 64.1%"I like my HPs more al natural, but this one's good for sure, if a little rustic and robust indeed". - whiskyfun.com
What initially felt like a one-off in 2020 is now onto its fifth annual release (not yet available in Australia). We've managed to source more of an earlier, now largely sold out edition, Batch No.3. What goes into these NAS bottlings changes a little each year, mainly in terms of the cask regime. While we love the low peat HP style, some found batches one and two lacking in Orkney smoke. So for the third instalment, Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion has opted for a higher proportion of locally peated malt than the previous releases. Bringing together dozens of single casks, it was matured in first-fill and refill sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, rounding off the hearty peat smoke with zesty layers of fruit and warming spice. It comes bottled at a natural strength of 64.1% and should handle more than a few drops of water.
Other reviews...This brand-new baby that was bottled at rocket fuel strength, just like its predecessor will you say, is ex-first Fill sherry American and European oak. Colour: gold. Nose: it is a meaty, grassy, slightly metallic sherry, which makes it really rustic and robust on the nose. Now at 64% vol., anything will be robust. With water: only few changes, it remains grassy, slightly fermentary, with some ale, walnuts, some raw chocolate, ham… It is less honeyed than last year's C/S. Mouth (neat): sweet and pungent at the same time, with some leather, hay, walnut skins, puréed chestnuts, cured ham, peppery oak… Robust and rustic indeed! Water is absolutely obligatory in this context. With water: there, the fruits are coming out, first bitter oranges, then bitterer apples, plus some triple-sec and always these walnuts, as well as bitterer vegetables, around our good friends the artichokes and eggplants, not to mention Baldrick's turnips. Finish: long, still leathery and a little bittersweet. Some welcome raisins in the aftertaste. Comments: I like my HPs more al natural, but this one's good for sure, if a little rustic and robust indeed. For the hipflask with a skull, bones and an Harley logo. 83 points - whiskyfun.com
...The nose is heavy on the sherry influence, with chocolate covered raisins and prunes, leading into cigar smoke and damp, flower-lined meadow. The palate starts hot, with a handful of seasonings ranging from salt and pepper to brown sugar and spice, like a barbecue dry rub. There's also burnt caramel and walnuts. A lengthy finish starts dry, with ashy fireplace, asphalt, tannic oak, bitter peanut shells, and sea spray, eventually ending on an underlying rich sweetness with dark chocolate and pomegranate molasses. 92 points - distiller.com
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Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 63.9%For many, the inaugural cask strength release was one of the year's best whiskies and a glimpse into just how good Highland Park is when left uncut. Release No.2 promises the same extraordinary depth, complexity and balance of flavours. This time around, Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, has selected mainly sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, along with just a few ex-bourbon casks. The whiskies included are of differing ages. Taste-wise, in a word (or three), he sums up Release 2 as "smoky peppered praline", adding “... its full flavour allows you the control to discover the taste and strength that appeals to your palate by adding ice or water according to your preference.” Guaranteed to pack a punch at a (slightly) higher ABV than last years. 63.9% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... From sherry seasoned European and American oak casks. Sherry seasoned European oak can be tricky in my book, hope this won't have become too leafy or even leathery. Having said that, batch #1 of the C/S had been very good, in my opinion (WF 86). Colour: gold. Nose: not as smoky as the 15, rather more on sponge cake, caramel, fudge, butterscotch, stewed fruits or the trademark heather honey… With water: creamy honeyness and many stewed fruits and jams, especially our beloved quinces, also apples and pears. A perfect coastal side too, sea spray, even some iodine, mercurochrome, ointments… What's really great is that no clumsy sherry gets in the way, it's all well-integrated. Mouth (neat): I think I like it but I'm sure it is extremely strong. With water: more smoke and more coastalness. A tad too much on the leafy-sherry side indeed for me, with some bell pepper and even, say artichokes, but the general feeling remains extremely positive. All you need to do is to add the proper amount of water - no, zero water is not an option here. Finish: long, perhaps a tad too leafy and peppery at this point, which will make it lose one or two points in my book. Comments: a tad rough and rustic here and there, but it is to my liking. I have the feeling, not only at HP, that some newer sherry-seasoned casks have become leafier and more peppery, I don't know why. Because of European oak? Tonnelerias making them faster? Just a gut feeling... 85 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Aromas of summer rose, ripe pear and fresh coconut gathering on a wave of aromatic peat smoke, followed by a wild harmony of sweet and spicy flavours - poached pear and rich almond cake, a drizzle of cloudy honey and a twist of salty liquorice. There’s the suggestion of toasted oak and intriguing notes of orchard fruits, black pepper and sweet aniseed linger, in a satisfyingly long finish.
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Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 44%Highland Park had a 15 year old on the market over a decade ago, bottled at 43%. The age statement is being revived in this re-packaged version composed of a ‘high percentage’ of first-fill European oak sherry-seasoned casks. Complimenting this are first-fill American oak sherry casks, adding flavours of vanilla and crème brûlée. Meanwhile, a small proportion of refill casks give ‘gentle’ heather peat and ‘lightly fruity’ character. Perhaps what's most striking is the vessel itself. The whisky has been filled into heavily embossed 'ceramic' style bottles, made in partnership with UK-based Wade Ceramics. The design was inspired by ancient earthenware vessels, which would have been used to store whisky a century or two ago at the distillery. The new 15 year old is set to become a permanent edition to the core range. 44% Alc./Vol.
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Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%The extreme northern archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands around Orkney is in every sense isolated. It's not known when the first distillery was established in Orkney, but there were almost certainly local producers by the middle of the eighteenth century. Above the capital, Kirkwall, is a rise with fine views out to the northern isles traditionally known as the ‘High Park’. It's here that Highland Park distillery was said to have been founded in 1795. There have been several different owners, before coming into the hands of James Grant and family in the late 1800s. By 1826 when the distillery became legal, the site had already become known as 'Highland Park'. Now owned by The Edrington Group, its location must partly be accountable for the distinctive character of the malt, through the surrounding ocean, the local peat and the Orkney spring water. To blenders, the distillate is prized - many of whom claim it possesses unique 'catalystic' properties which enhance flavours in other whiskies.
Nearly always ranked alongside the classic malts, revered as a spectacular after-dinner drink and without doubt '...a malt to challenge any Cognac or Armagnac', the house style is fragrant and floral with a smooth, honeyed character over hints of citrus and smoke. The phenol content of the distillery's own malt is 30-40ppm but the remainder which is imported from Simpson's is unpeated. The distillery is serious about quality oak, spending $20 million a year on wood alone, more than any other Scotch distillery - despite having a fraction of the output of some of the larger brands. First released in 1979, the 12YO is still the best introduction. Employing about 20% first-fill sherry casks, a name change and packaging update took place in 2017.
Retasted 2019 ...Surprisingly full at 40% ABV but loses vitality and flattens out towards the finish. Otherwise, mostly unchanged. 90 points
First tasted 2012... Brilliant, bright gold appearance. Almost floral in delivery. Honey and toasted barley mingles with a perfectly balanced waft of peat and brine. An exceptionally soft, silky entry offers good concentration and the same seamless integration as found on the nose. Medium dry, subtle nashi-pear fruitiness combines with a judicious slap of peat. Crescendos with a spicy flourish at mid palate. Finishes more peaty than some previous bottlings with drying brine, spice and smoke lingering before a honey fade. Getting closer to what this whisky was 10 years ago. 40% alc./vol. 92 points
Other reviews... "The sweet aroma is very inviting and draws you in closer to inspect the dram. The honey'd and vanilla fragrance takes a turn on the palate replaced by grass and pineapple. A lemon twist or two comes next with the peat smoke just teasing your senses." 91 points - drinkhacker.com
...This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
More Viking paraphernalia… Could we at least have Lagertha? Colour: gold. Nose: not my preferred style of HP either, but this is fresher, fruitier, more lively, even if the core is kind of similar. Bitter oranges, marmalade, ginger, ale, whiffs of pumpernickel bread, oak spices, a little leather and tobacco… Indeed I like this nose better. Mouth: no questions, this is more refreshing despite the ‘seasoning’ that’s a little too apparent to me. Pepper, oak spices, black tea, grass smoke… Nice earthy honey beyond these bitterish spices. Finish: medium, spicy, with an obvious tannicity. Comments: they seem to have used active seasoned wood too here, but the spices and the leather were better controlled in my opinion. But indeed I much prefer the brighter, distillate-driven HPs. Because what a distillate it is indeed! 83 points - whiskyfun.com
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Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 43%"The very latest bottlings have been astonishing...a glass of something honeyed and dazzling calls!" 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
Perhaps more than standing stones, Neolithic settlements, a Viking Cathedral and Norse sagas, Orkney is famous for two distillieries: Scapa and Highland Park. The latter at 18 years of age has earned a place in the Scotch Whisky pantheon as one of the 'classics'. In short, a whisky every one should experience. Or, in the words of spirits writer, F.Paul Pacault, "It fits my profile of what makes a perfect whisky. Which is to say it’s totally in harmony. There are no rough edges and everything is melded together brilliantly". Slow-burning, aromatic peat from Hobbister Moor and Sherry seasoned European oak casks result in a style that was once evocatively described as "...An empty honey jar which once held peaty embers." We received a sample in late 2017. The whisky offers a sophisticated sniff evoking nuances of dried fruits (fig, dates), honey, gristy malt and delicate brush strokes of sweet smoke is followed by hints of waxy apple, orange spice cake, choc ripple cookie and cinnamon. After 5-10 minutes the nose drops off leaving dark chocolate and trace sulphur. Honeyed barley and sherry notes beautifully harmonise with earthy peat; the sweetness balanced by orange zest and a touch of salt...rebounds in the aftertaste. Almost full circle round the flavour wheel, and for that reason, one of the most quintessential of all Scotch single malts. Some tasters found the Sherry input slightly less than years gone by, but otherwise, about as good as it's been since the inaugural 1997. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Gentle peat, soft toffee, floral notes, and honey on the beautifully fragrant nose. Superbly balanced on the velvety palate, with brittle toffee, stewed fruits, peat, honey, and a hint of coffee. Smoke and more toffee mingle in the long, elegant finish. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Spring 2012)
… Nose: An empty honey jar which once held peaty embers. An enormous nose which seems to improve with each bottle I sample, though the characterstic salted butter is always present. Fabulous. Palate: Beautifully sweet: even sweeter than the 12 year old with peat on the back of the palate. Beautifully chewy, oily and substantial. Finish: Still peaty and now a little oaky. Cocoa and toffee cream compexity. Comment: This has to be my favourite Highland Park of them all, and each new bottle I taste (this was my sixth sample) seems to underline the overall class and consistency of this distillery. Brilliant.. 95.5 points - Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
...Copper. Rich roasted walnuts, caramel and spice on the nose. A soft, satiny entry leads to a dryish full-bodied palate of dried fruits, burnt caramel, peat, and heather. Finishes with a long fade of peat and honey with choice wood spice notes in support. Fantastically balanced. 95 points (Exceptional) - tastings.com
...An old favourite, haven’t try the 18 since a good six years though. Loved it in 2011 (WF 88). Colour: pale gold. Nose: so typically HP! There’s that heather honey that wasn’t quite to be found in the 15 and Valkyrie, more roundness, more dried fruits (figs, dates, pears, raisins) and earth rather than smoke. Orange blossom, dandelions, honeysuckle, and some nice whiffs of humus and garden peat. In short his baby’s more refined, and perhaps more civilised. Not quite Viking stuff this time, if you like. Mouth: indeed, a different world. Superb dried fruits mingled with some herbal syrup (Chartreuse, genepy, eucalyptus) and the expected honey, with a feeling of charred wood in the background. Rather a gentleman’s HP, if you will. Finish: medium, a tad rougher and grassier, but still quite wonderful. Ah our good old HP 18!… Comments: a little less fan of the finish, but Highland Park 18 years old remains a classy classic. 2016 tasting. 88 points - whiskyfun.com
...deep, smoky flavors, vanilla notes and lovely texture through the long finish. It's a wonderful whisky for a winter's evening.' - Gerald D. Boyd, San Francisco Chronicle.
'...nothing short of an aromatic miracle..' - The Spirit Journal, USA
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Highland Park Valfather Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 47%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
"...a rather young Islay whisky from Orkney. Actually, I think it's very good." - whiskyfun.comClosing its Viking Legend series of three whiskies is 'Valfather'. Claiming to be the distillery’s peatiest whisky to date, it was matured in refill casks and bottled at 47% Alc./Vol. Named after Odin (the most powerful of the Norse gods), expect aromas of "crisp apple with sweet fragrant pear" and notes of "creamy vanilla crème brûlée with toasted cedar wood and warming paprika".
Other reviews... Highland Park suggests this is its peatiest whisky to date. Smoky roasted malt noteson the nose, with singed wood and a slowly developing floral note. Initially, sweeterthan expected on the palate, with vanilla and apricots, then dark peat, licorice, andtreacle toffee notes appear. Black tea and black pepper in the finish, along with a hint of pineapple. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...According to the design, this humble NAS would be a half-Viking, half-Zulu bottling. They say it's the peatiest style of Highland Park, let's check that. You'll find it one all over the place, they must have produced hundreds of thousands bottles of this. Colour: light gold. Nose: this would confirm my findings (you're not Dr Livingstone either, S.), they've cranked up the peat. So this has rather a lot of peat, also kelp and vanilla. Now it's not particularly complex, I suppose the mix is young on average. A little vanilla, herbs, ashes… Mouth: it's having a hard time after the BB&R as it's much simpler, narrower, and just rather peaty. Now I still like it, it's a bright make, with good citrus beyond the coastal peat. It's just that it's pretty simple, I'm reminded of Laphroaig's rather underwhelming… What's the name again? Ah yes, Select. Oh boy. Finish: medium, creamy, peaty as an Islay. Comments: a rather young Islay whisky from Orkney. Actually, I think it's very good, hope they'll issue some older batches if they have any. Now and again, I find the fact that any distillery would produce many styles (like unpeated, lightly peated, medium peated, heavily peated, not to mention all kinds of woods) a little boring and valueless. Call me old-guard if you wish. 85 points - whiskyfun.com
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Highland Park 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$8499. 00Bottle$101988.00 DozenABV: 43.2%Note: Packaging may vary from image.
Described in Whisky Magazine as “an incredibly well drinking Highland Park… sharing some of the 18 Year Old’s refinement but taking it into a different league”, the presentation and quality should put this firmly on collector's radars. -
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Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older BottlingOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 40%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not shown.
First released as a UK exclusive in 2003, this is not far off the benchmark 18 year old.
Tasting note: Pale gold. Superb aromatics initially offer honey and toasted cereals followed by smoldering cedary oak scents. Some fruitiness too. Palate flavours are concentrated with layers of manuka honey, vanilla and spice slowly giving way to toasty malt and peat. Outstanding length and persistence. Long aftertaste of sweet cereals and peat followed by a late manuka honey burst. A stunning dessert whisky. Something akin to what the 12 year old version was like a decade ago. 40%
Other reviews... nosed blind, and at this relatively unusual age, there could be only one distillery: the honey smoked balance and intensity is unique... 92 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010
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- ABV may vary
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Highland Park 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$1199. 00Bottle$14388.00 DozenAwarded: 'Best Single Malt Aged 22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)'- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013.
ABV will vary around 46% Alc./Vol.
Boasting 'the northernmost Scotch whisky distillery in the world' in Kirkwall, Orkney, the Highland Park Distillery has an intriguing history of illicit distilling and smuggling. Known as Kirkwall distillery until 1876, the name 'Highland Park' derives from the hill where the distillery stands, 'High Park'. The location was thought to be chosen for its water source and as a lookout against approaching excisemen.
The distillery's glory days came in 1895-1897 when the Grant family came into control, replacing the two existing stills with larger ones, and installing a further two in 1897. The sudden growth was however, short lived as a result of the closure of Pattisons Blending Co (one of the major blending companies at the time) in 1898, becoming the catalyst for a massive slow down within the Scotch whisky industry that lasted for close to 50 years. It is over this time that Highland Park dedicated their focus to building whisky supplies, a move that would be rewarded in 1997 and 1998 with a succession of new releases set to become permanent members in the distillery portfolio. Highland Park 18 and Highland Park 25 year old are some of the oldest regularly supplied releases available in Scotch Whisky, a triumph that is paying dividends.
Other reviews: (96 Points) - (n24) big aged oak amid the smoke and honey: it appears something a lot older has gotten in there....; uniquely complex and back to its very best; (t24) - silky and confident, every usual box is ticked - or even double ticked. Much more honey and smoke than i have seen here for a while and it's not all about quantity. What quality! (f24) - long with amazing degrees of oil, almost of the bourbony-corn variety! Helps keep those mind bending honeys coming! (b24) - i am a relieved man: the finest HP 25 for a number of years which displays the distillery's unmistakable fingerprints with a pride bordering on arrogance. One of the most improved bottlings of the year: an emperor of a dram. - Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2024
- Highland Park 25 Year Old (Timber Box) Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$1499. 00Bottle$17988.00 DozenABV: 45.7%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product shown.
Other reviews: (n24) ...big aged oak amid the smoke and honey: it appears something a lot older has gotten in there....; uniquely complex and back to its very best; (t24) - silky and confident, every usual box is ticked - or even double ticked. Much more honey and smoke than i have seen here for a while and it's not all about quantity. What quality! (f24) - long with amazing degrees of oil, almost of the bourbony-corn variety! Helps keep those mind bending honeys coming! (b24) - i am a relieved man: the finest HP 25 for a number of years which displays the distillery's unmistakable fingerprints with a pride bordering on arrogance. One of the most improved bottlings of the year: an emperor of a dram. 96 points
-Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013...Deep amber color. Intricately layered aromas of sea salted roasted almonds, suede, toasted fruit cake, floral honey, and faint smoked dried meat with a chewy fruity-yet-dry full body and a long, warming, and very complex finish with waving of exotic fruits, spices, vanilla, singed peat, and earth rushing forth on the palate. A stunningly flavorful and resonant whisky.
International Review of Spirits Award: Platinum Medal
98 points (Superlative) - www.tastings.com -
- 86
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Highland Park Harald Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLANDReduced from $149.99$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 40%Following releases such as Thor and the travel retail exclusives of "Leif Eriksson" and "Drakkar" comes HP's 'Warrior Series'. Global Marketing Manager, Gerry Tosh explains the collection: “It's a natural progression for Highland Park, both in brand terms and in global travel retail. By continuing the celebration of our rich and distinctive Norse heritage we are able to tell stories which bring the brand and its products to life. To further this evolution, the whisky maker has crafted six individual whiskies which collectively offer drinkers a new style of taste journey, still classically Highland Park from start to finish, but giving them a different and holistic experience.” The range begins with a heavy influence of ex-American oak casks at the lower end, with a higher proportion of ex-European and Spanish oak influence in the more expensive lines.They are all no age statement releases. This bottling is named after Harald Fairhair, the King of Norway, who set up the Orkney earldom and was one of the founding pioneers of spreading the Vikings and their heritage around the northern hemisphere.
Other reviews... This Warrior variant takes us closer to Highland Park's traditional DNA, with the nose offering potato peels on a barbecue; earthy and herbal, with developing notes of heather in bloom and even violets. Lively fresh fruits, newly-baked cake, nutmeg, and ginger figure on the palate. The spicy finish is relatively long, with candied citrus peel and licorice. 86 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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- 90
- Nick's Import
2011 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Tamnavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 61.5%Barely a brand until the last few years, Tamnavulin has suddenly catapulted to become the fastest growing Single Malt Scotch in the world - partly due to maturing stocks being re-racked into high-quality wood and partly due to the stills being replaced in 2010 to produce a more complex and full-bodied distillate. This bottling represents one of the early runs from the 'new period'. Cough lozenges and Ovaltine, also vaguely cut grass-like on the nose, sweetening after air contact; the first taste feels tense and needing water. Given time we have a well-endowed, medium-bodied malt of some presence: tea biscuits, dark chocolate and warming spice, circling back to the faint citrusy, grassy edge found on the nose. Chewy uncut; broad, soft and feminine with water, the spices moderated. This would make a nice aperitif. 266 bottles from an x-Bourbon barrel. 61.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- Nick's Import
2011 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Ardmore 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 52%While Ardmore is probably best after 15 years, there are an increasing number of indies around that are generally good values as young-to-middle agers. This is one. Uncut, very approachable with broad brush strokes of chimney soot and dry earthy peat reek perfectly matching the low-key sweetness of the malt. Something faintly fruity develops at the finish, like dried pineapple or green apples. Overall pretty standard for Ardmore, though perhaps deeper and more oily than many recent examples. 243 bottles from an x-bourbon barrel. 52% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
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- Nick's Import
2008 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask North British 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)Lowlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 64.4%Probably as intense a grain whisky as we’ve ever tasted. Nippy and tongue-tingling, you can see why this attracted the attention of the bottlers. Behind all those busy, raucous spices, it is remarkably pure with deliciously defined flavours of vanilla oak and sponge cake, underscored by milk chocolate, light caramels and an oily finish. Precocious, and nothing that a little water won’t temper. It would also make a smashing base for your in-house blending experiments. 265 bottles from an x-Bourbon hogshead. 64.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- 92
- Nick's Import
2014 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Ben Nevis 9 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 58.8%Ben Nevis is a whisky for true malt-hunters: high quality, a distinctive make and not widely distributed, which is probably why most indie bottlers endeavour to have some in their range. This one feels like the distillate is really talking ('distillate-driven' as some would say) but you need to be patient. A closed nose, waxed peels, then vaguely grassy... given time develops enticing suggestions of pineapple chunks and green apples. The balance is fine-tuned. Peppered water crackers, followed by a green apple-pear fruitiness mingling with light vanillas. Ends lipsmacking and refreshing - like young Calvados eaux de vie. Add water and it's a little more grassy but retains enough of that crisp, fruity character that typifies many young Ben Nevis. 303 bottles from an x-Bourbon cask. 58.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- Nick's Import
2013 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Balmenach 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 54.5%Balmenach is reserved as a blending component so it isn't currently bottled by owners, Inverhouse. In our limited experience, it seems to require a good 15-20 years to unfold. This young, fairly bold example takes some time in the glass to blow off a sharp citric edge and give way to richer notes of powdered beef stock, Ovaltine and dark chocolate. Chewy and full-bodied, packed with bittersweet dark chocolate and hints of roasted nuts, the finish is brisk, vanilla-laced, faintly fruity, medium dry and slightly nutty. Add a dash of water and you're in for a mouth-filling experience. 54.5% Alc./Vol. 293 bottles from an x Bourbon cask. Non-chill filtered.
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2011 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Mannochmore 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 56%Fascinating to taste Mannochmore in burgeoning adulthood, this one offering a seductive mix of dried pear, coconut and Ugg boots, especially on the nose. More of those lovely coconut and vanilla cream notes are found on the palate, the orchard fruits being crisper and less ripe. Classy malt, though at just 11 years, there’s a few bristles to contend with. Add water for a naturally softer feel while the fruits become more salient. 279 bottles from a bourbon cask. 56% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- Nick's Import
2012 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Macduff 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 54%Bacardi-owned MacDuff can be variable. Some tasters find it a bit bready and beery, which is no bad thing. On the other hand, it sometimes retains a nutty, sulphury edge that can taste like rubber. This is one of the most accessible singles in the latest Golden Cask lineup - rich and rounded, in moments leaning towards milk chocolate and malt extract, poached orchard fruits and buzzing spices keep the momentum going. A well-weighted, malt-forward expression that pops with a dash of water. For drinkers, not thinkers. 266 bottles from a bourbon cask at 54% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
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- 90
- Nick's Import
2011 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$124. 99Bottle$1499.88 DozenABV: 57.9%Glen Garioch can be challenging and unconventional. Here the opening aromas are feisty, unripe and butyric then richer, nuttier with green cardamon and hints of lemon balm. More approachable on the palate in a mouthfilling, oily-yet-crisp, refreshing Summer style that comes with persistent spices matched by alcohol flare. May require dilution for some, which significantly amplifies the mouthfeel. 57.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 219 bottles from a Bourbon cask.
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2007 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Croftengea 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 58.9%'Croftengea' is produced by Loch Lomond and equates to a classification for a spirit type. The distillery says this is its most heavily peated whisky. We find it to be similar to Caol Ila, sans the really strong maritime character - in other words, variations on a smokey theme that's predictably good. The nose and palate are engagingly sweet and sooty with Anzac biscuits, butter menthol lozenges, dried grass and chocolatey peat. Creamy, full bodied and jam-packed with salty peet-reek, the co-mingling of tangy fruit and sweet oily smoke with wood spices is in controlled tension. Add it all up and you have style that is nothing less than dangerously drinkable. 58.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 270 bottles from a Bourbon cask.
- Hunter Laing & Co. Scarabus Batch Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 57%Other reviews... Love love love Hunter Laing, but I'm asking you, what the hell does 'batch strength' mean? Having said that, the 10 yo at normal strength was glorious. Colour: white wine. Nose: crystal-clean coastal smoke, in the style of those Finlaggans from the olden days. Tincture of iodine, sweat smoke, smoked kippers, gherkins, oysters, whelks, crabs, kelp, cucumbers. With water: marvellous high-precision blade-y coastal peated malt whisky. Very pure and 'millimetric'. Mouth (neat): just super-great-very-good. White asparagus, glue, olives, brine, barnacles. I mean, in the words of Captain Haddock, blistering barnacles! With water: perfect. Hate it that such young whisky bearing a neo-Victorian label and a very lousy name would be this good. It's the end of it all! Finish: perfection rolling out. Salt, lemons, seashells, brine, olives… Comments: reminds me of those cheap aguardientes you can buy incognito in Cuba when no one's watching (which, granted, doesn't happen very often). Very pure and pretty perfect.
89 points - whiskyfun.com - Hunter Laing & Co. Scarabus 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%
Apart from referencing a mystical area on Islay, 'Scarabus' was an old distillery that was closed over two centuries ago, but its exact location on the island remains unknown. Hunter Laing's series of Islay whiskies of the same name continues - this time with an age statement drawn from a mix of refill ex-bourbon barrels and virgin oak casks. It comes with the same handsome, neo-Victorian presentation, and it's intended as a classic peated island style: softly smoky on the nose with hints of leather and buttery, cereal notes with lots of sweet peat smoke on the palate. Non chill fitlered for maximum flavour. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Building brands. This is an Islay single malt, let's see if it's just Caol Ila under another name. What? Why would the label be overdone? Of course it isn't! But it's the juice that counts anyway… Oh and I seem to remember Scarabus is also the lovely place where our very dear friend Martine Nouet, queen of all stills, has got her house on Islay. But shh… (hugs, Martine) Colour: white wine. Nose: precise, millimetric, on olive brine, oysters, lime juice, and sea breeze. No more, no less. Mouth: high-definition smoke, seawater, green olives, and lemon. An unexpected touch of thyme honey, which will cure your throat as sure as 1+1=2. Finish: long, wonderfully briny, salty, you'd almost believe you could quaff this with razorfish stewed in garlic and butter sauce, Barcelona-style. Crikey, I'm hungry again. Comments: let's be serious, the name Scarabus obviously suggests the Rhinns of Islay, it just cannot stem from the other side, can it? So either Port Charlotte, or Kilchoman. Not too sure… Let's move on… Great tight juice in any case.
88 points - whiskyfun.com -
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InchDairnie Distillery KinGlassie RAW 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Fife, SCOTLAND$184. 99Bottle$2219.88 DozenABV: 46.3%Avid Scotch-watchers may notice the packaging here looks very similar to RyeLaw (a single grain whisky made with Scottish-grown rye, launched in 2023). That's because they're from the same distillery. This marks one of two inaugural single malt releases, the other being a Double Matured 8 Year Old. KinGlassie Raw is expected to be an annual limited edition with a peated barley spec of 50ppm (the same as most Kilchoman, for example, and higher than most Islays). The distillery says this release has a "smouldering fireplace" quality. You certainly get the sweet peat character up front - of the mellow, sultry kind, infusing crisp baked apples and light vanillas. On the palate, the effect recalls some young Octomores. Peat never quite rises to the expectations of the phenol spec, nevertheless, the mouthfeel radiates the aura of a profound, end-of-the-night dram, abundant with oily, bitter dark chocolate complexities to roll around the tongue. 2025 batch tasted. Bottled unchill-filtered at 46.3% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Nose: Raw indeed, but not brash. The malt forward nature of the distillery’s new make is evident (husks and mash), accompanied by a pleasant sweetness (almost honey-esque), hints of silage, hessian and subtle lemon drizzle cake as well as granny smith. The smoky notes are more campfire-esque than coastal, let alone medicinal. Definitely some vanilla foam blocks as well. Taste: Mouthfeel, I don’t know. Slightly underwhelming initially, but water unlocks a pleasant creaminess. This is malty with a hint of sponge cake, then also moderately ashy, somewhat brackish and with a touch of red apple. Also smoked citrus fruits, and there’s a pinch of pepper in the background. Finish: Medium length. A tad dry while sweet malty notes linger, as well hints as smoked husks. This whisky speaks to the confidence InchDairnie has in its spirit. Almost as if they went looking for the least inactive casks in their warehouses. A good nosing whisky that could do with some more complexity on the palate, but certainly a quality malt overall. - wordsofwhisky.com
- 2018 InchDairnie Distillery RyeLaw Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)Fife, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 46.3%
Made from a mash bill of 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley, the second vintage of RyeLaw comes matured in x-Bourbon casks sourced from the Appalachian Mountains. The result is a whisky defined by rich wood and pronounced rye spice. While it follows the production rules of its American cousin, RyeLaw is shaped by modern Scotch whisky-making techniques and remains the only whisky in the world made from malted rye and distilled in a custom-designed Lomond Hill still. Distilled in 2018 and bottled in 2015. 46.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Colour: Rich golden. Aroma: A robust mix of rye spice and oak, balanced by hints of vanilla and caramel sweetness. Flavour: Bold peppery rye leads the palate, followed by drying oak and a smooth, lingering finish of delicate toffee.
- 1990 Inchgower (Special Release 2018) 27 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenABV: 55.3%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not shown.
Around 8500 bottles make up the 2018 Inchgower, which also marks the debut of the distillery as a Special Release. Known as the "Manzanilla of Speyside" it's one of Diageo’s workhorses, quietly producing a nutty, briny spirit that's a key part of Bell’s blends. Matured exclusively in refill American oak hogsheads to retain all of the waxy granny smith character of the spirit, it's a very dry, savoury and nutty malt with subtle green apple fruits. This is all about the texture and the aroma of the spirit with minimal oak input. Diageo releases have been pretty much the only generally available bottlings from Inchgower, which is otherwise marketed by independents. It's been said that less than one percent of the total production is bottled as a single malt, so examples of this ilk are a rare treat indeed. Super limited.Other reviews... The nose offers a whiff of soy sauce, honey, and blotting paper. Salty and spicy on the palate, with green apple, walnut, and cloves. Jaffa orange and black pepper in the long finish.
89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2018) -
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Isle of Harris The Hearach First Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%"...a singular style. It must be increasingly challenging to find one's own style with all these new distilleries around. Thumb up; and the bottle's reaaaaally lovely." - whiskyfun.com
Built in 2015, the Isle of Harris distillery recently released its inaugural single malt. Up until now, the project has been limited to the hugely popular Isle of Harris Gin - now into its millionth bottle. Named 'The Hearach' meaning 'Native', the single malt is showing early signs of similar success. The first batches were snapped up from online UK retailers. According to a fan on whiskybase.com, "...[the distillery] used Highland Park 12yo as their inspiration and they’ve nailed it. Slightly Smokey, slightly sweet and a very easy & smooth drink." Key production specs include 100% Scottish Concerto barley lightly peated at 12-15ppm using peat cut by hand at 'Cleite Mhòr', an area of South Harris, a long fermentation that runs for up to five days, as well as maturation for at least five years in three cask types: Fino butts, first-fill bourbon, and oloroso sherry casks. Because conditions for growing grains on Harris aren’t ideal, the barley gets shipped from the Black Isle in north-west Scotland. Water is sourced from the island and is reported to be some of the softest in all of Scotland.
Managing Director, Simon Erlanger, who was previously an executive director for Glenmorangie comments, “We set out to create complexity and character, and that takes time. On first sip or smell, it’s a lovely, sweet, delicious whisky with a hint of smoke at the end. But each time you come back to the glass, you discover different things. People might expect an Island malt style, quite full-bodied and peaty, but we’re not that. We’re not really Speyside style either. It’s an Isle of Harris whisky. We’re just are who we are.”
Head distiller, Norman Ian Mackay adds “We tightly control everything. We’re very strict on our wood policy. The whisky’s all matured in warehouses on Harris. The whole process, including bottling, happens on the island. We’re not doing anything the easy way. If investors wanted to make money quickly from whisky, they wouldn’t do it in the middle of the Atlantic.”
The Australian importer has secured stocks of batch No.2 of the first release, labelled as such on the cap seal. We received a 30ml sample. It's one of a growing number of Scottish upstarts that takes your palate by surprise. Firstly, it's more peaty than you might expect, but in a way that shouldn't be off-putting to people who normally shy away from smokey whiskies. Instead of a maritime blast, the phenols are like sweet wood smoke with sprinklings of white chocolate. Secondly, the malt is already beautifully expressive and, yes, comparisons to the honeyed, medium-peated character of Highland Park or perhaps, Glenglassaugh Portsoy are not without justification. The length is decent for such a youngster, rounding off with toasty oak, citrus, hints of salted crackers and a delicious thread of something sweeter. With an outturn of around 13,000 bottles per batch, as a first edition, this may appeal to forward-thinking collectors. Like the Isle of Harris gin, the presentation of 'The Hearach' is a highlight: A stout but very stylish bespoke bottle designed by Stranger & Stranger, detailed with a fine 'ribbed' texture. The whisky comes bottled at 46% without chill filtration.
Other reviews... The Isle of Harris Distillery’s debut is a marvelous dram with aromas of sweet orange peel, lime zest, pear, heathery peat smoke, vanilla, jellied candy, and floral top notes. The concoction has sweet fruity notes, citrus, gentle smokiness, and flavors of grapefruit, lime Jell-O, vanilla, honey, pepper, and subtle sherry, becoming rich and creamier with vanilla fudge, stone fruits, walnut, and cacao, ending with a pleasantly spicy finish. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Already a star on social media, apparently, thanks to a very carefully chosen bottle that'll be very successful on the shelves of the most exclusive department stores in London, Paris, or New York. Okay, and in Tokyo, Berlin, Milan, Madrid, Montreal… … and John o' Groats. Perhaps not John o'Groats. Right, and they are 'social', and they make gin. The whisky is lightly peated (15ppm) and aged in bourbon, oloroso and fino. Colour: pale white wine. Young distilleries no longer seem to use any caramel. Nose: classic bready start, some porridge, sourdough, rennet, garden peat, then green olives, which I just always love. It's almost as if they had let some olives swim in the casks, or macerate in the wash. Mouth: it's peatier on the palate and it's got a very distinct style. You'd say 30ppm rather than just 15, really. This one too is pretty ashy, in fact, but there's a fermentary depth (see what I mean) that's adding, well, some depth. Notes of pickled lemons, more olives, small gherkins… Finish: rather long, with lemons chiming in, which always works. Oh and a little gin, haha. Comments: singular style. It must be increasingly challenging to find one's own style with all these new distilleries around. Thumb up; and the bottle's reaaaaally lovely. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers on BATCH NO HE 00002 23... “At first, I smell clean oak smoke like the curing smokehouses in the village I grew up in Poland. There’s a spiciness and a sweetness, like smoke dried prunes which not many people from Harris will know. There’s heather, like the fragrance from the hills when I’m out taking photographs. When I drink it, there’s more sweetness and creaminess like a creme brûlée and I taste freshly picked green apples, very sharp. There’s a gentle saltiness, like licking your lips after walking on one of our windy beaches. The finish is long and smoky. When I first moved to the island I would drive around in winter with the windows down just to get a beautiful whiff of peat fires burning, now I can find it in my glass.” - Peter Kwasniewski, Drinishader, Isle of Harris.
- Isle of Jura 30 Year Old Camas An Staca Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 44%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product shown.
'Standing Stone', or ‘Camas an Staca’ in Gaelic, takes its name from the largest of Jura’s eight standing stones. Known as ‘The Bay of the Protecting Rocks’, this imposing 12 foot obelisk is reputedly all that remains of a stone circle laid some 3,000 years ago by the earliest Diurachs to appease the spirits. The iconic Jura bottle is presented in a beautiful display case that opens its doors to reveal the story of the whisky. Meticulously detailed, the bottle is in-filled with copper wax with a matching metal plaque. 44% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The latest addition to the Jura range has been matured in American white oak casks before spending three years in Gonzalez Byass oloroso sherry butts. The mellow nose is lightly oily, with figs, sherry, orange, and a savory note. Vanilla emerges, along with malt, and finally a hint of cinnamon and parma violets. Soft and supple on the palate, with more orange, plus cocoa, sultanas, and dates. The finish is lengthy and features dark chocolate, raisins, aniseed, and subtle spices. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
This baby was finished in Oloroso sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass'. The funny name means standing stone. Colour: apricoty, almost pink. Nose: starts on frankly vinous notes, its not that it’s unpleasant, it’s just a little excessive. The good news is that all that would just go away after a few seconds, leaving more room for a complex range of citrus fruits, both dried and fresh. Oranges are very obvious, then rather citrons. Touches of baklavas, orange blossom, pomegranates, then more cigars, raisins, chocolate and just a little leather as well as a few floral notes, mainly peonies. All that is rather smooth and easy-going, although more mineral notes do rise after a few minutes. Graphite oil? Mouth: excellent attack, quite old style, with a fruitiness that reminds me of both old Bowmores and Benriach, although this one is soon to become a little drier and slightly chalky. Also a little chlorophyll and this leather from the sherry. Walnuts. Touches of salt. Finish: medium long, even drier now, the fruits have almost vanished and it all gets quite tea-ish and cigary. Cinnamon and nutmeg in the aftertaste as well as a little smoke. Fino sherry or vin jaune. Comments: very high quality but I feel the dry sherry is sometimes overwhelming ‘in the background’, with its, well, dryness. Otherwise it would have been 90+ material. 87 points - whiskyfun.com -
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Isle of Jura 14 Year Old American Rye Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 40%"The best Jura I have tasted in years...Can't recommend this bottling enough." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
Jura’s more affordable offerings have mostly been NAS bottlings and on the lighter side. They’re rarely considered "must try malts". The 14 year old (launched in 2022) delivers a step up with American whiskey casks really complementing Jura’s spirit. Matured in ex bourbon and finished in hand selected x-rye barrels for an unspecified period, this little gem offers surprising depth and complexity at an entry-level ABV.
Other reviews... Now that is what I call a nose! There is a most subtle mintiness coming off the rye casks. There is also a fixed, firm honey tone too, of the heather honey variety. All beautifully amalgamated with the tannins... Fascinating, and behaves a lot older than its fourteen years... such an excellent nose, it would be easy for the delivery to be a let down. But it isn't. Instead we have a gentle oiliness softening the deep and powering tannins which offer a lightly overdone toast character to the chocolate lime candy. I did not expect to pick up any rye notes on this... but they are unquestionably there via the rigid sugars... This is complex, big on flavour while offering a subtle complexity as a degree of eucalyptus sneaks in. Most remarkable, the delivery gives the feeling that something a lot older than fourteen years has gone into this. The best Jura I have tasted in years - and in contention for a Whisky Bible Award. Can't recommend this bottling enough. 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
...Red berry, cherry, and light touches of earthy oak aromas. The palate is light and delicious, with more red berry notes, sweet orange, vanilla, and balanced pepper spice. A long finish brings a rush of strawberry tart, crème brûlée, and confectioners sugar against the heat of pepperoncini. The ABV is as light as can be, yet it delivers on flavor—rich vanilla and sweet berry fruit—with excellent depth and superb balance. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Our classic fresh citrus and vanilla character is balanced with the herbal and floral aromas of the American Rye barrels, delivering aromas of mango, fresh mint and crushed almonds. Taste: On the palate, you’ll taste toffee apple richness and pecan pie with layers of cinnamon, vibrant vanilla, honey, cacao and hazelnut. Finish: Warm and nutty with notes of toffee, maple syrup, guava and soft wood spices.
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Isle of Jura Red Wine Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%Since the 2018 relaunch of the core Jura single malts, their “Signature Series” has been gradually expanding. Starting in 2020, a subset of “Cask Editions” were added. One of them is the Red Wine Cask Edition. The wine type is not stated, but the finishing is reported to add rich berry flavours. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Jura these days appears to be making bold statements. And often they include broad brush strokes on a selected target: here is the fruit. There is definitely an unfortunate niggle to the finish. But that is more than compensated by the beguiling nose and the vivid delivery and follow-through. Just...Wow! 89 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
Notes from the producers... NOSE: Sultanas, creamy caramel, black forest fruits and a hint of heather honey. TASTE: Raspberries, strawberries, creamy vanilla and cinnamon spice.
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Isle of Jura 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 40%Other reviews... Finished in oloroso sherry casks. Stewed plums and Raisinets on the nose, along with raspberry pastilles, dried pineapple, honeysuckle, lemon drops, and pear. The palate is creamy up front, offering notes of apple pie, vanilla fudge, and semi-sweet chocolate. On the finish there’s some cinnamon and other baking spices, hints of strawberries, and more chocolate. Shows good balance, with softer, lightly fruited flavors. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Ted Simmons 2021
...Mid Europeans with the sulphur gene will devour this with joy. So much else to enjoy, though, especially yhat juicy delivery. 87.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
- Isle of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%
Lying just to the East of Islay, off Scotland's west coast, Jura is one of Scotland's most spectacular but least known islands. The Isle covers 36,692 hectares and rises to a height of 785m. The name Jura has several meanings : “two brothers Dih and Rah”, “island of yew trees”, and “island of red deer”. However, with a human population of under 200 and about 5000 red deer, (the deer out number the people by around twenty five to one), expert opinion tends towards the latter.
The Jura whisky is produced from water from Loch A'Bhaile Mhargaidh (Market Loch) and ground malted barley. The water is not peaty as the loch is high in the hills. The wash is distilled twice in pot stills. High necks on the stills give a light spirit. The whisky gains a little weight and richness by being matured in a mixture of American oak and Sherry casks.
The 10 year old Isle of Jura is a medium-bodied malt with the character and texture of a west Highland whisky - accessible with a hint of spice and fruitiness. Unlike some of its heavier Islay cousins, Isle of Jura is only lightly peated.
Tasting note: Nose: Oily, lightly piney, earthy, salty, dry. Palate: Sweetish, soft, malty, oily, slowly developing a slight island dryness and saltiness. Finish: A little malty sweetness and some saltiness. Comment: A lovely aperitif. 40% Alc./Vol.
Rating: 7.5/10 - tasting note sourced from Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com - Isle of Raasay Dun Cana Sherry Quarter Cask Second Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 52%
Isle of Raasay's second annual Dun Cana release departs from their signature malt, exploring different cask types. For the second edition, peated and unpeated spirit is matured separately in ex-American rye casks, which previously held Woodford Reserve, before a secondary six-month maturation in Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry quarter casks. The distillery says the use of the smaller 125-litre casks “accelerates the maturation process” to deepen the resulting flavours of pepper spice, sultanas, vanilla toffee and salty chocolate. The whisky is named for Dùn Cana, the highest point on Raasay, as a tribute to the landscape of the distillery’s home. 52% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Nose: Initially vanilla, followed by a few nutty aromas, including almonds, hazelnut praline, and pecan pie. Spice, ginger, and cardamom. Palate: Complex, like the nose. A few more fruit-forward notes here, like plums, berries, and peach. Almonds. Bakewell tart. Gingerbread. Finish: Long, as expected, given it is more than 50% ABV. A lingering fruitiness, which works well. Comment: Commendable in its complexity, especially with the way it merges a spicy nuttiness with a softer fruit combination. This has been crafted with skill. - whiskymag.com
- Isle of Raasay Peated PX Sherry Quarter Cask Australian Exclusive Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 59.4%
A special limited edition bottled for the importer as an Australian Exclusive. Matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez quarter cask for a speedy maturation, the style is rich and smokey with vibrant dark fruits. 129 bottles are available at a cask strength of 59.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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Isle of Raasay Quercus Humboldtii Virgin Colombian Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 50.7%Isle of Raasay released its namesake whisky back in 2021. Distilled on a tiny island north of Skye and only reachable via a ferry, they produce both peated and unpeated whisky from 100% Scottish barley and then blend the two to create a lightly peated style. While most single malt is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, Isle of Raasay is harnessing the unique flavours and properties of first-fill rye, Chinkapin oak and first-fill wine casks from Bordeaux. Then there's this - part of the Oak Species Maturation Series showcasing how different woods interact with the spirit. Fully matured in Colombian oak (Quercus Humboldtii), it's a superbly vibrant malt that could be at least ten years old by Scottish standards. Mezcal-like in its smokiness, being earthy, slightly vegetal, and in moments, borderline rubbery, bittersweet dark chocolate, hints of salt and seaweed add to the complexity. It's young umami whisky with the presentation to match. 8500 bottles produced. 50.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Notes from the producers... flavours of crème brûlée and heather smoke in a mix of peated and unpeated malts.
- Isle of Raasay Na Sia Unpeated Chinkapin Single Cask 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 61.8%
Chinkapin, or Quercus Muehlenbergii American white oak is native to central and eastern North America. The fresh charring of these casks brings a rich colour and flavour early on in the maturation process, while the high toast caramelises the natural sugars in the wood. It's anticipated that this expression will be offered every two years as a peated and unpeated variant. Expect sweet toffee and butterscotch on the nose, with vibrant dark fruit flavours and deep, rich colours at just five years of age. 61.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Aged in virgin Chinkapin oak. The aroma is sultry and rich with dark toffee and caramel notes, honey roasted cashews, brown butter, and a bit of Cracker Jack. The palate is expressive, if a bit youthful, with lots of cooked cereal and brown sugar atop a big oak profile of sandalwood, dried coconut, and pencil shavings. A bit of candied ginger develops on the midpalate, along with spice cake and some baked apple before dissolving into a warming, slightly salty finish of honey candies, dried cherries, and apricot. Reviewed: Cask 19/56. - drinkhacker.com
- Isle of Raasay Na Sia Unpeated Rye Single Cask 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 61%
Other reviews... Aged in first-fill rye casks from Woodford Reserve. The nose is initially soft and earthy with a mild rye spice, coffee grounds, and a toasted marshmallow sweetness. The peat smoke, which comes across more as mesquite barbecue, doesn’t fully integrate with notes of vanilla bean and butterscotch that start to take over as things open up. On the palate, a peppery entry of young malt and Tootsie Roll gives way to thinner notes of barley sugar and baking spice. The finish, while nicely spiced, is a bit one dimensional, with caramelized sugar, treacle, and a bit of campfire smoke. Reviewed: Cask 18/627. - drinkhacker.com
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Isle of Jura 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLANDReduced from $169.99$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 44%Other reviews... There is an outlandish outbreak of massive flavour on delivery, both the malt and fruit almost shrill in their proclamations of intent. This is high juiciness in excelsis, the sugars crisp and full of grist and Dmaerara. And on the finish a slight chocolate note hovers, but then a degree of sulphur drifts in... as threatened by the nose.... This has so many beautiful moments. But... 85.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2014
Jura has introduced a new house style of ‘sweetness and smoke,’ and this spent 18 years in bourbon barrels, with a finish in red wine casks. Malt, peach blossom, raspberries, vanilla, and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate offers red berries, more chocolate, cloves, and peat. Dry red wine notes in the finish, with fruity spices and black pepper. 44% Alc./Vol. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2018)
Imagine I haven’t tried the 18 since… Oh my, 2007! But Jura was weak back then, really. Some nasty bottlings, not all of them, but there. Now this newer expression was finished in some Bordeaux red, most sadly (not STR), but you never know, this little juice may have escaped the mighty cabernety army. Which, by the way, I just love – In my wine glass. Colour: golden amber. Nose: some earth, peonies, blood oranges marmalade, heather honey, candied cherries, leather and ginger, more earth, wallflowers, pecan pie… I have to say this is a fine, rather rich and yet pretty elegant nose. But don’t we all know that silly wine finishings usually rather fail… on the palate? Mouth: nah, they know what they’re doing. This is not my preferred style at all, and we’re rather finding more café latte plus these dusty and honeyed sides (both at the same time), but otherwise except a drying cardboard and coffee combo in the back, this would rather kind of work, relatively. Well no, I’m having trouble liking it a lot, honestly. Finish: medium, dry and a little burnt and bitter. Burnt molasses, heavy cinnamon, some sour cardboard in the aftertaste. Comments: love the distillery, the people, the master blender, the settings and some of their whiskies, but frankly, I find this one rather too difficult. Tough love. 75 points - whiskyfun.com
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Kilchoman Loch Gorm 10 Year Old 2025 Edition Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 46%"...a complex rollercoaster of a whisky." - whiskyadvocate.com
In Kilchoman’s 20th anniversary year, a second celebratory special edition sees the first Loch Gorm with an age statement. As is typical for the label, the whisky comes matured entirely in former oloroso sherry casks from the José Miguel Martin bodega. Twenty-three casks divided between twenty first-fill and three second-fill were bottled at the end of March 2025. “Loch Gorm, in my opinion, is reaching it’s perfect age" adds Anthony Wills, the distillery's founder, "10 years maturation in sherry casks has added an abundance of rich spices, dark fruit and barbecue sweetness to the light citrus and peaty character of Kilchoman, balancing those rich sherry notes with our classic Islay spirit." 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Matured in first-fill and refill oloroso sherry butts from two distillation years, this first 10 year old Loch Gorm is a complex rollercoaster of a whisky. Smoked orange peel, blueberry, and brisket bark aromas, with overtures of sweet smoke and peppermint tea. Chocolate orange, cocoa, raspberry sauce, clove, pepper, and chile flakes spin off into lemon curd, vanilla, and candied orange, and finish with cinnamon, smoke, and sweet dried fruits. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...I am used to Kilchoman being very lively, almost harsh at time, but this is farmy smoothness, full of dark and brooding notes of coffee and cacao and the flintiest hints of fruit. Dark colour fruit, dades, plums... In short, this is amazing stuff. I am trying to think of something similar to this Kilchoman Loch Gorm 10 years old, but the only thing that comes to mind is the Longrow 14 years old, that has a similar farmy vibe to it. This Loch Gorm is very unique to Islay, with almost none of the maritime signature you will find in other producers on the island. This is Islay’s farm distillery, and it shows off with this expression. Well done! - longpouramour.com
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Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$189. 99Bottle$2279.88 DozenABV: 50%After a six year absence, Kilchoman's Sauternes matured expression is back, this time boasting a full-term maturation instead of a five month finish. Founder, Anthony Wills selected a combination of fresh and refill Sauternes barriques (22% vs 78%) from two separate years, the youngest being 2018. The result is not too dissimilar to the last version, with flashes of dried apricots and peaches detectable through the savoury, earthy peat reek. A bit of a sweetie at mid palate where the oils thicken until typical Kilchoman peat overtakes, ash and pepper in tow, with an unexpectedly, dry chewy finish that shows some wet stone minerality. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The nose thrills with gooseberry, honeysuckle, kiwi, linseed oil, passion fruit, lemon sorbet sprinkled with sea salt, and the caramelized meringue peaks of a baked Alaska. It has a slightly waxy mouthfeel with lush summer fruits from the sauternes cask showing Golden Delicious apple, banana, apricot, star fruit, and honey, with a late arrival of peat smoke. Water polishes the fruit notes but unleashes more smoke. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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Kilchoman Batch Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$164. 99Bottle$1979.88 DozenABV: 57%Kilchoman's first ever core range batch strength release is drawn from a combination of re-charred red wine casks married with Oloroso Sherry butts and Bourbon barrels. The result is a colossal dram combining the natural peat smoke and citrus character of Kilchoman with dark fruits, rich spices and sweet caramel. Technically it's not cask strength but it's not far off. A few drops of distillery spring water were added to bring the ABV down to 57% before bottling without chill filtration. Says Kilchoman's Founder Anthony Wills “Batch Strength is a giant of a dram, it has a raw intensity, that I love. But importantly, that power is balanced by a delicacy and finesse that speaks for the quality of our production processes in the stillhouse, and also the quality of casks used for maturation". If you've been waiting for a release that embodies Kilchoman’s robust, maritime character, in particular a Kilchoman with a strong salty bite, this is it.
Other reviews... This recipe uses Kilchoman matured in bourbon barrels, oloroso butts, and re-charred red wine casks, and combines the fruit and smoke really well. Red apple, red currant, black raspberry, heather honey, and salted caramel on the nose, with beach bonfire smoke turning peaty as it builds in intensity. Silky texture on the palate, with red apple, smoked plum, raisin, cherry pie, and a long-lasting finish with peppery spices running riot. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
This dram is delicious – the proof’s in the pudding, or to put it more plainly, in the remaining liquid level in the bottle, which is dropping at an alarming rate. So much so that I’d hedge my bets that when it’s finished, I’ll be planning to replace it fairly quickly, if the price is right. And price is the slight kicker here – there has to be at least one right? Retailing at around £75, it is rather higher priced than I’d have hoped, particularly taking into account that it is not in fact officially a cask strength bottling, although to all intents and purposes it drinks like one. Neither is it age-stated. So I’ll be keeping a close eye on any offers when it comes to replacing mine. Score wise I should be docking a point and giving this a 7 out of 10 Dramface rating based on the slightly high suggested retail price. However, I need to recognise how quickly I’m tearing through it. I’m loving this. It’s an 8. Would I recommend it? Yes wholeheartedly. I recognise how easy it is to reach for of an evening, and know it is in the great drams category. - dramface.com
- Kilchoman Port Cask Matured 2024 Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 50%
A Kilchoman fully matured in ruby port wine casks. For balance, two contrasting ages have been combined, with the youngest component matured for six years. Aging in port wine casks adds notes of cinnamon and figs to the distillate's maritime character. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Colour: gold with copper reflections. Nose: rich layers of stewed red berries, figs, raisins, sweet barbecue sauce, cinnamon, jam. Palate: marmalade, strawberries, cranberries, smoked meat, leather, wood, oak and thick smoke. Finish: ash, charcoal and red fruit sweetness linger, wood, spice and tobacco.
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Kilchoman Sanaig 2024 Edition Cask Strength Limited Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 57.8%Sanaig and Machir Bay are Kilchoman’s two core products, but only the latter has had the honour of an occasional cask strength release. Prospective samples of Sanaig were floated during a 2021 Feis Isle virtual tasting. No release date was ever suggested and the label had to wait until November 2024 to finally get its own natural-strength iteration. Looking at the colour, you might think they've mistakenly filled the bottle with Loch Gorm. That's down to a high proportion of x-Oloroso sherry casks (the remaining 30% are x-Bourbon). Essentially, this release uses the same recipe as the regular Sanaig, however, we can assume casks have been cherry-picked, then bottled uncut as opposed to the regular release strength of 46% ABV. Impressive from the get go, through that’s fairly standard praise for Kilchoman, the bouquet kicks off with menthol rub, iodine, damp earth and wood smoke with bitter peel and dark chocolate in tow. Creamy on entry, then catapults into a full-throttle mid palate attack, keynotes being cocoa, Oloroso sherry and sweet peat. Bracing spices and alcohol give this a drying, bittersweet finale, trailing off with pepper, elastoplast and nutty chocolate. Feels like there's more sherry influence than your standard Sanaig. Either way, it's an absolute blast for Islay fans. No outturn is stated, but the Australian allocations are likely in the hundreds rather than the thousands. 57.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... From this Islay-based distillery comes an annual expression matured in both sherry and bourbon casks. Smoke on the nose, Grape-Nuts, tasty peat smoke, and barbecue. The palate has heat but is flavorful and not at all spiky, showing pleasant flavors of raspberry compote and an earthy note of pipe tobacco. The finish is long, with red berries, smoke, and peat embers. Smoky, with lively fruit notes that rise above the peat. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...the entry is bold and spicy, with an explosive mix of black pepper, chilli, nutmeg and aniseed, anticipating a palate of dark pastry, chocolate, red fruit (sour cherries, plums, blackberries), sweet liquorice, blood orange juice, pink grapefruit and carob. Fleshy and iodised smoke that envelops the flavours like Linus’ blanket. The addition of water accentuates the marine aspect, bringing sulphurous notes to the surface. The long finish is coastal and full, with a tingle of spices that accompany red fruits and citrus, liquorice, chocolate, coffee and a vegetal, sulphurous vein. This is closer to a Loch Gorm on steroids than the original, which could be seen as either a distortion of the classic Sanaig or a liberation of its nature. A matter of opinion, mine appreciates the fullness of a slightly rambunctious but sincere dram. - Lamberto Lamarina, whiskyart.blog
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Kilchoman 100% Islay 13th Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 50%Distilled from barley grown on the Kilchoman farm in 2012, 2013 and 2014, this the 13th edition was matured for a minimum of eight years before 44 bourbon barrels were selected for the release. Says Anthony Wills, Kilchoman's Founder, “The 13th Edition is the first release since 2019 where I have opted for solely bourbon barrels... I selected predominantly fresh casks, this gives the whisky lovely layers of buttery vanilla and caramel flavours which pair beautifully with the citrus sweetness of our spirit.” 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill-filtered.
Other reviews... Selected from barrels using malts from Islay’s 2012–2014 harvest, the nose bursts with honey, lemon mousse, and barley, with gentle smoke woven through, and later notes of cinnamon, butterscotch, malt, and caramel. The initial sip is juicy, with honey, chocolate, malt, cherry, and smoke, adding Cadbury fruit and nut bars, butterscotch, creamed banana, and barbecued meats, with a finish of hot smoke, sooty embers, and dark chocolate. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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.
















































