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WINNER: BEST ONLINE WHISKY RETAILER 2018 AND 2019. Australia's second Icons of Whisky Awards were announced in August 2018 at the Whiskies and Spirits Conference held in Adelaide. Nominated and voted for by the industry, for the second year running, Nicks Wine Merchants have been awarded AUSTRALIAN ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR! We're now entered to compete to be named best in the world in 2019 at the World Whisky Awards in London.

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Bakery Hill Single Malt Australian Whisky Gift Pack (5 x 50ml)

Victoria, AUSTRALIA

$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

David Baker started distilling in 1999 with the first "Bakery Hill" whiskies launched in 2004. Consistency has become Baker's strong point and his stated aim is to reproduce traditional Scotch Whisky styles. He employs re-coopered x-Jack Daniels Whiskey barrels for maturation of his "Classic" and "Peated" whiskies, with the "Double Wood" expression finished in virgin French oak. Each is represented in this attractive miniature gift pack. For added interest, this collection also includes Cask Strength samplers of both the Classic and Peated versions. A great way to acquaint yourself with the Bakery Hill range.

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Bakery Hill Peated Malt Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)

Victoria, AUSTRALIA

$169. 99
Bottle
$2039.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Bakery Hill is a new Australian venture into the generally exclusive world of Whisky production. We say exclusive, because few distillers outside of Scotland have yet managed to create a whisky that approximates to the quality or style of the Scottish original, or when they have, the whisky has usually relied upon the importation of key ingredients from the ‘homeland’. Bakery Hill’s Single Malts, despite their youth, are very promising initial efforts, and as the spirits spend longer in barrel, one can anticipate some very interesting results.
As with classic malts, Bakery Hill uses only malted barley [from Tasmania], yeast and water to achieve its flavour and aroma. No caramel is added in order to enhance the appearance. Barrelling at Bakery Hill is done using select second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels. French Oak casks are also used for the production of the classic double wood style.

This malt is only lightly peated and resembles a full bodied Speyside rather than an Islay.
"Lightly smoked, it is dry at first but gathers sweetness as the oils close in.
46% Alc./Vol. - Source: Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2004.

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- Packaging may vary
Bakery Hill Single Malt Australian Whisky Gift Pack (3 x 50ml)

Victoria, AUSTRALIA

$59. 99
Bottle
$719.88 Dozen

David Baker started distilling in 1999 with the first "Bakery Hill" whiskies launched in 2004. Consistency has become Baker's strong point and his stated aim is to reproduce traditional Scotch Whisky styles. He employs re-coopered x-Jack Daniels Whiskey barrels for maturation of his "Classic" and "Peated" whiskies, with the "Double Wood" expression finished in virgin French oak. Each is represented in this attractive miniature gift pack. All whiskies are 46% ABV.

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- 91
Balblair 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

As of 2019, Balblair have abandoned their vintage dated bottlings, instead offering a range of age statements, all at a 46% minimum with zero chill filtering or colouring. The house style aims to maximise the esters at the start of the cut giving core characteristics of apricots, oranges, spices, floral notes and green apples. The heavier oils and lipids at the end of the cut are also captured, giving leathery, nutty and full-bodied characteristics. Initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, then refined over the years in Spanish oak for extra richness and complexity, the handsome new-look 25 year old promises a full-bodied malt with oily citrus, chocolate praline and a faint note of fresh tobacco leaf.
Other reviews... There has been hard work here to harmonise fruit and oak, and allow the barley a say too. But when the sherry is this ripe, not an easy stunt to pull off. Gets pretty close though! 91 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022

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- 94
1969 Balblair 43 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND

$3499. 00
Bottle
$41988.00 Dozen

ABV: 41.4%

Bottled in 2012 as a limited production of 999 bottles, this is one of the oldest Balblairs ever released.
Other reviews... A charmer. Don't even think about touching this until it has stood in the glass for ten minutes. 94.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020
...This veteran Balblair was distilled on February 7, 1969 using barley malted on site and coal-fired stills. Opens with slight saltiness on the nose, almost ozone, then lemons and pine, and finally, vanilla fudge. Overt citrus notes on the palate, with aniseed, some oak, brittle toffee, and a smokiness not found in younger Balblairs. The finish is long and discreetly spicy, notably cinnamon and black pepper. 41.4% Alc./Vol. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Summer 2013)

Delivery Information
- 95
Balcones 1 Peated Cask Strength Texas Single Malt American Whisky (750ml)

Waco, Texas, UNITED STATES

$160. 00
Bottle
$1920.00 Dozen

ABV: 59%

The Balcones “1” label is a part of the distillery’s annual offerings, made entirely from Golden Promise barley that’s been peated and imported from the Scottish Highlands. Bottled after approximately three years in new oak, the aroma sports an Oloroso-like character with burgeoning depths of dried fruits, orange zest, cured meats, roasted nuts, vanilla and smouldering beach wood. It's as beefy a Balcones as ever, yet somehow lands on its feet in an impossibly well-balanced arrangement of pulsing wood spices, oily peat-reek, pepper and weighty malt flavours that really takes off. The persistence is excellent, with those bittersweet, tongue tingling spices slowly fading into an ashy oblivion. Malt rebounds late with smokey cardamom and salted caramel dark chocolate. Bracing stuff. 59% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... [130.4 proof batch tasted] On the nose, the peat is indistinct and the whisky is elusive. Notes of black raisins, figs, ground coffee and leather are more evident than the smoke, though it’s there, just under the surface. Peat is far pushier on the palate, where the attack hits with notes of kippers and mesquite, reminding me immediately of the mesquite-grilled burgers of my youth. At more than 65% abv, it’s a blazer, and notes of licorice and bitter amaro are never far from the palate. Water is a great idea, tempering the heat of the whiskey as well as its bitterness, allowing the finish to run to notes of cloves, dark brown sugar, dark chocolate, more raisin notes, and a reprise of peaty smoke. With all that said, the peat is never overwhelming, and Balcones “1” Peated manages to find its own sense of balance in spite of all expectations to the contrary. Distinctly a product of Texas from start to finish, but nodding toward Scotland, it’s one of the most original Texas whiskeys (and arguably the best from the post-Chip Tate era) I’ve encountered to date. - drinkhacker.com
Notes from the producers... Our peated malt whisky is made with our beloved Golden Promise malted barley dried over a highland peat moss fire. After mashing, fermentation, and distillation in Texas, the spirit is introduced into new toasted and charred American oak barrels where it is matured for 36 months. This marriage of peat and new oak is seldom undertaken in the world of whisky and creates a spirit that is both earthy and rustic as well as structured and robust. NOSE: rich, heavy aromas of earth, oak, caramel combine with spicier notes of incense and burnt cedar strips evoking summer grilling of cedar-planked salmon and charred teriyaki skewers. TASTE: round and creamy impression of brown sugar and cinnamon infused Lapsang Souchong tea. FINISH: the smoky tea flavors builds to dry, spicy notes of allspice, cardamom and hints of grilled chilies on the long, revealing finish.

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- 91
Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon Whisky (700ml)

Texas, UNITED STATES

$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Tasting note: Made from a mash including corn, wheat, rye and barley and aged for at least two years, this deep amber coloured bourbon is set to be a permanent addition to Balcone's core range. Dusty cocoa and toasted oak aromas build with hints of dried peach, vanilla and new leather. Spiced pears, bush honey and quality oak feature in a medium bodied whiskey, finishing with hints of old leather and toasted nuts. Tastes older than what it is. 46% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... 93 points - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019
Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon is good, interesting and unique, but missing some of the depth, complexity and excitement in some of their other releases. Though for the price, it’s hard to pass up and makes one heck of an Old Fashioned. 85 points - thewhiskeyjug.com

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Balcones Brimstone Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Corn Whisky (700ml)

Waco, Texas, UNITED STATES

Reduced from $135.00
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 53%

Texas campfire in a bottle!
Many years have passed since this American craft classic was last in the country: A 100% Hopi blue corn whiskey made from mash-to-bottle at the Balcones, but instead of using Scottish peat smoke, it's wood-smoked. Sun-baked Texas scrub oak is employed in a proprietory process resulting in a flavour bomb full of fresh, youthful corn and light fruit notes married with campfire phenols. Jim Murray described it as "Ultimate surfing for the peat head". Our tasting in 2013 found opening whiffs of rubber and vinyl but with substance to keep you sniffing as the industrial edge retreats. Give this several minutes at least to reveal the second stage that turns unripe corn-like, followed by evocations of damp camp fire, smoked meats and hints of maple syrup. Immediately reminiscent of class mezcal on delivery with its exotic combination of pepper, grilled corn, lanolin, vinyl, vanilla and impressive balance, the final stages turn dry, mezcal-like with the smokey corn and charcoal making a definitive return followed by a lingering roasted chestnut fade. Yes, it's a strange one, but we love this utterly unfettered craft distilling classic where Oaxaca meets Islay, with Kentucky somewhere in between. 53% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Distilled from roasted blue corn. The spirit itself, not the grain, is smoked over Texas scrub oak. Spicy Red Vines, herbal notes, and blackened corn aromas. An initial burst of fire on the palate transforms into juicy red fruit, sweet cinnamon apple, and hints of bramble and forest floor. An unusual and polarizing whiskey, Brimstone is aggressive at first, but in the end it’s a gentle giant. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Adam Polonski (Fall 2018)
"The aroma is full of grilled peaches with a brown sugar, chipotle glaze. The palate continues with strong smoke, bacon and more spice. The long finish is salty and full of pipe smoke." 90 points - distiller.com
... implies something heavily smoky, the nose is surprisingly restrained, with modest smoke notes complementing notes of dried fruit and apple cider. It’s engagingly complex, but the palate is something quite different. An initial rush of sweetness quickly gives way to an utter smoke bomb — think a campfire full of smoldering cedar trees — with a pungent, ashy finish. A far different experience than a sultry Islay, Brimstone ends up brash and in your face, like a blast of cigar smoke blown in your direction. An extremely divisive whisky, your enjoyment of it is entirely dependent on your position in regards to licking ashtrays. (2017 review) - drinkhacker.com
"Ultimate surfing for the peat head" 93 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020
...Strange name, Brimstone, isn’t it another name for sulphur? This is blue maize whisky that’s been smoked afterwards, meaning that it’s the distillate that was smoked using oak, not the maize. It’s very young but was fully matured under Texas’ very hot and dry climate. Colour: reddish amber. Nose: it’s not quite whisky at first nosing, rather a kind of strong liqueur, very tarry, such as the famous Finnish tar liqueur (Tervasnapsi). There’s also a lot of roasted bacon and some very distinct notes of hot wood (just sawn using a very fast power saw). In short, BBQ! Also more and more smoked tea, yes, a full tanker of laspang souchong. I must say I enjoy this nose, not only because it’s so unlikely. With water: more exhaust gas (from a ’70 shovelhead, hum-hum). Mouth (neat): again, it’s very unlikely but it’s really fun and very pleasant if you like liquorice. Because it’s extremely liquoricy, you may eat three bags of liquorice allsorts and you wont even come close to this. Touches of Cynar or Fernet Branca. Thick mouth feel. With water: some notes of rum develop, molasses, reduced corn syrup… and always a lot of liquorice. Finish: long, spicier. Sweet curry, red Thai sauce, cloves, aniseed, wood smoke… Comments: it’s very experimental but it’s balanced, which is all that counts. I especially like the fact that it doesn’t seem that it’s the wood as such that does all the talking. Well done, this is really fun! 85 points - whiskyfun.com

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- 92
- Reduced
Balcones 1 Classic Edition Texas Single Malt American Whisky (700ml)

Waco, Texas, UNITED STATES

Reduced from $140.00
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 53%

Resembles bright polished copper in the glass. The nose is noticeably less sweet than the rest of the Balcones on offer and comes across quite Bourbon like with its strong vanillin oak, water biscuit opening whiff. There are hints of orange zest and confectionary (gobstopper) here too. The palate unfolds in similar fashion offering fine tuned, bitter sweet flavours of caramel, drying oak and a faintly oily texture, followed by a drier still, gently tannic aftertaste with hints of vanilla and confectionary persisting. 53% Alc./Vol. 2013 batch tasted.
Other reviews... [Batch SM 20-1 tasted 2020] Dried leaves, toasted nuts, and plenty of fresh oak emerge from this big, broad-shouldered malt that ably handles all the new oak that's been thrown at it, with the solid wood structure propping up pretty orange pekoe tea, buttered toast, biscuity malt, caramel, and chocolate flavors. Finishes with dark toasted spices and anise. A distinctly oaky, American interpretation of single malt that is both bold and balanced. (5,000 bottles) 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com

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- 88
Ballantines Finest Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Dumbarton, SCOTLAND

$54. 99
Bottle
$659.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

George Ballantine, the founder of Ballantine's came from a farming family in the Scottish Borders. He established a grocers shop in Cowgate, Edinburgh in 1827, eventually extending his business into wines and spirits. The founders son, also named George, set up in Argyll Street, Glasgow, in 1872 as a whisky, wine and cigar merchant, with many export interests, especially the promotion of their Old Glenlivet and Talisker Fine Malt brands. In 1903 the family business was granted a Royal Warrant and was recorded as "transacting an immense trade in supplying wines and spirits to families of distinction all over Scotland and in many parts of England and Ireland." The company was subsequently sold, however the new owners had similar success, establishing solid markets in the United States and elsewhere. The rest is history...

The Malt and Grain whiskies used to produce Ballantine’s Finest are all aged for more than three years. The original flavour, complexity and refinement comes from more than 50 single malt flavours. The unmistakable Ballantine's flavour is dependent on these 50 single malts, 4 single grains and in particular the fingerprint malts from Miltonduff and Glenburgie. No one single component dominates. The Ballantines range also includes: Ballantine's Gold Seal, a smooth and complex 12 years old whisky; Ballantine's 17 year old, a super premium brand with a deep complex flavour which is regarded as THE Scotch whisky by consumers in the Far East and Ballantine's 30 year old, a rare and exclusive blend of Scotland's finest malts.
Tasting note: Bright gold. Attractive scents of breakfast cereals, husk and caramel. Super soft throughout, as grains and cocoa feature on the light to medium bodied palate, drying towards the finish which is clean, a little flabby and very gently warming. Although this latest bottling seems sweeter than previous batches, it's still one of the picks of current blends if you’re looking for a lighter style at an entry level price point. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… Nose: Perfumy. Very fragrant smokiness. Palate: Soft and light. Silky, oily peaty. A therapeutically medicinal relaxant. Finish: Lemon-honey. Some late sweeetness. Late surge of gentle warmth. Comment: Very gentle, but a precise clarity of flavours. Drink while listening to Vivaldi. Rating: 85 - www.whiskymag.comsize>

Medium golden color. Caramel, roasted nuts and old rose aromas with a good dose of hot vapor. A brisk entry leads to a dryish somewhat bitter, light to medium-bodied palate with mild toffee, light peatiness, and a sharp turn of white pepper. Finishes quickly with a pepper and caramel fade. Thin and uninteresting. 40% Alc./Vol.
International Review of Spirits Award: Bronze Medal
RATED: 81 points (Recommended)- www.tastings.com

Delivery Information
- 92
Balvenie 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Wooden Box

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$3999. 00
Bottle
$47988.00 Dozen

ABV: 47.3%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Other reviews... Rarely have I come across a bottling of a whisky of these advanced years which is so true to previous ones. Amazing. 92 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017
I always loved the Thirty. The strength hasn’t changed, it’s always a cask-strengthish 47.3%, in true William Grant fashion. I think I also had it at the World Whisky Awards 2013. Colour: full gold. Nose: oh, this is so much more to my liking on the nose. Pure honey, really. In my experience almost all official Balvenies are honeyed (especially the old ones) but this is actually even more honeyed than honey. You may add a few very ripe apricots and yellow plums (mirabelles). Enough said. Mouth: superb, punchy yet silky, extremely honeyed and jammy, with some brown sugar and fudge coating the whole. I love this richness that never becomes ‘too much’. Vanilla-infused acacia honey like a good friend uses to make. Finish: long, smooooth, rounded, honeyed, with a little orange and mint in the aftertaste that keep your palate as fresh as a baby’s. Comments: perfect, one of my favourite honeyed Speysiders (as opposed to the sherried ones). 91 points - whiskyfun.com

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- Discontinued
Balvenie Madeira Cask 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$350. 00
Bottle
$4200.00 Dozen

ABV: 43%

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

Now discontinued, this unusual Balvenie expression was released for the Travel Retail market. It's a lively and summery single malt finished in casks that previously held sweet Madeira. Malt Master, David C. Stewart explained how he enjoyed exploring the Madeira region and its wines during a holiday - so much so that it inspired experimentation with the casks. 43% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Nose. Overflowing flavours of blackcurrants and brambles slowly layer upon gingery syrup and delicate spice. Taste. Ripe fruitness from fresh peaches lead to a citrus orange zing, hazelnuts and crisp oakiness coating the pallet. Finish. Long lasting.

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- Nick's Import
Balvenie Rare Marriages 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$1999. 00
Bottle
$23988.00 Dozen

ABV: 48%

Other reviews... This is the proper new Balvenie 25, not one of those doublewoods or single barrels, you understand? Colour: gold. Nose: fully Balvenie. Touch of nail polish at first, then mirabelles and quinces, then croissant and brioche, then custard and acacia honey. That's all folks, and that was very much already. Mouth: absolutely splendid, perhaps a tad rougher than earlier vintages (the glorious 1970s) but indeed full of plums, yellow ones, green ones… Quinces are there too, sugarcane as well, tiny notes of Victoria pineapple, then just vanilla and the best part of oak. It is not a very complicated malt whisky, it's even a tad simple, but I find it epitomically Balvenie, which is enough for me. I must be on my lucky day. Finish: lovely finish, creamy, ueber-Balvenie-ish, on preserved mirabelles with just a dash of sawdust. Vanilla and barley syrup in the aftertaste. Comments: close to the core. My main problem is that I cannot not remember the early 1970s Balvenies – and the ones before. Balvenie 'As we get it' anyone? Maybe I need some kind of reset. 88 points - whiskyfun.com

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 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.

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$399. 00
Bottle
$4788.00 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

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 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.

Delivery Information
- Reduced
Balvenie Rare Marriages 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - DAMAGED GIFT BOX

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

Reduced from $1,999.00
$1499. 00
Bottle
$17988.00 Dozen

ABV: 48%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. This one, in particular, has some medium bruising to the top edge (see photo). Actual product pictured.

Other reviews... This is the proper new Balvenie 25, not one of those doublewoods or single barrels, you understand? Colour: gold. Nose: fully Balvenie. Touch of nail polish at first, then mirabelles and quinces, then croissant and brioche, then custard and acacia honey. That's all folks, and that was very much already. Mouth: absolutely splendid, perhaps a tad rougher than earlier vintages (the glorious 1970s) but indeed full of plums, yellow ones, green ones… Quinces are there too, sugarcane as well, tiny notes of Victoria pineapple, then just vanilla and the best part of oak. It is not a very complicated malt whisky, it's even a tad simple, but I find it epitomically Balvenie, which is enough for me. I must be on my lucky day. Finish: lovely finish, creamy, ueber-Balvenie-ish, on preserved mirabelles with just a dash of sawdust. Vanilla and barley syrup in the aftertaste. Comments: close to the core. My main problem is that I cannot not remember the early 1970s Balvenies – and the ones before. Balvenie 'As we get it' anyone? Maybe I need some kind of reset. 88 points - whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 93
- 89
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Fusion Series #9 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Kentucky, UNITED STATES

$159. 99
Bottle
$1919.88 Dozen

ABV: 48.4%

Originally blending sourced whiskeys, the Bardstown Bourbon Co. has been releasing small amounts of its own Bourbon under the Fusion Series label since 2019. Essentially, these are sourced whiskeys married with increasing amounts of their own stocks across nine different editions. The Fusion Series culminated in 2022 when it was discontinued, giving way to the distillery's own output under the Origin Series label. A small parcel of the final edition has made it to Australia and we received a small sample. The whiskey's sweetish nose is contrasted by a slightly drier-rye feel to the delivery, akin to eating dark rye bread, but with a buttery topping to help you chew through it. In this case, the oiliness of the spirit combined with a dollop of vanilla serve the same effect. Delicate mint adds a final rye flourish before wood tannins narrow down the finish. Stylish. 48.4% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Very high rye personality but just never seems to get the balance right. That said, intermittently a pretty delicious experience when the rye does get a clear run. 89 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
...The Fusion Series swan song, billed as their “favorite creation to date,” features a similar mix of sourced 12-year-old Kentucky (30%) and house-distilled bourbon with the BBCo. portion comprising a four grain mashbill paired with a rye bourbon, again both four years old. Fittingly, the nose on this one is the most mature I’ve yet encountered; less bright and fruity, more sultry and wood-driven. That’s not to say it’s oaky in the least. In fact, it’s surprisingly gentle with airy layers of torched sugar, Andes Mints, and pecan pie. The palate is approachable and well-balanced with an early, warming baking spice that carries across the sip, enhanced by notes of rich caramel sauce, milk chocolate fudge, RedHots, and buttery snickerdoodles. The finish is lush with a black pepper spice and slowly fading notes of dark cherry, tobacco, and cola. A fitting sendoff for an impressive series. 96.8 proof - drinkhacker.com

Delivery Information
- 91
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #9 Blended American Whiskey (750ml)

Kentucky, UNITED STATES

$240. 00
Bottle
$2880.00 Dozen

ABV: 56.25%

A blend with the majority sourced from Georgia (35%), then Kentucky (31%), 17 year old Tennessee whiskey (19%), and Canadian whiskey (15%) making up the remainder. The flavours here seem to sit on the fence. At first it feels more like a corn-heavy Bourbon, then the rye ups the ante. Medium dry flavours pack decent concentration, trailing off with vanilla bean, peppery warmth and lots of bittersweet mint chocolate. Fades dryish, medium long and oaky. 56.25% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Toastier and woodier than Discovery #8, this blend has a bit more gravity and a considerably different — albeit still engaging — character. Malty and a bit bready on the nose, the whiskey moves over time from a pastoral aroma to one that is somewhat austere and a bit leathery. Much of that follows over to the palate, where the malty elements soon give way to a sharp citrus character, orange and lemon peel, then tobacco and more spice notes. This feels surprisingly hotter than #8, despite being lower in proof. Red pepper gives the finish some lingering burn, with cloves, ginger, and sesame oil coming on strong. Overall, it’s a bold and somewhat burly whiskey that offers plenty to love — if you can take the heat. 112.5 proof. - drinkhacker.com

Delivery Information
- 92
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Kentucky, UNITED STATES

$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50%

Aged six years and distilled from a mash of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. The fairly pedestrian Bourbon bouquet develops a growing sense of maturity as it unfolds with vanilla wafers, peaches and pecan pie, cola, fresh-cut American oak and a lovely oily orange zest undercurrent that follows onto the palate. Displays a relatively dry, taut elegance not often encountered in this segment. A classy side of Kentucky. 50% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 50ml sample.
Other reviews... Think of walking in a prairie meadow at a state fair, the wind curving slight hints of grain, and then an explosion of cotton candy, marshmallow, and florals. Initial earth turns to powerful notes of smoked paprika, maple, salted caramel, and fried bread. Every note is pronounced and beautiful. A strong and long finish follows with an amalgamation of everything tasted, and then cinnamon appears out of nowhere. (Kentucky only) 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
... The corn and wheat are reportedly locally sourced in Kentucky. The nose has an impressive depth to it with notes of leather, dark honey, warm cornbread, and buttery caramels. The palate is considerably bigger than the standard bourbon with rich notes of caramelized sugar, macaroons, and dark cocktail cherry. A bit of barrel char and seasoned oak keep things from skewing too sugary. The finish is well-spiced, simmering at length with fresh cracked pepper and cinnamon. 100 proof. - drinkhacker.com

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- 93
Bardstown Bourbon Co. WVGBC Infrared Cherry Oak Barrel Finish Blended Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Kentucky, UNITED STATES

$240. 00
Bottle
$2880.00 Dozen

ABV: 55%

Nestled in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, the Bardstown Bourbon Company is a new breed of whiskey maker, building a reputation for innovation while honouring tradition. The company blends Bourbon and Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey and Bourbon or Bourbon and Rye as well as experimenting with a wide range of wood finishes. This bottling is a case in point: Their first cooperage collaboration, celebrating the equally forward-thinking West Virginia Great Barrel Company. A synergy in modern production led to a custom blend aged in cherry wood barrels toasted with infrared technology.
According to drinkhacker.com, "The barrels are composed of alternating staves of lightly toasted cherry oak, medium toasted cherry oak, and the more common American oak. However, it’s the final distinctive detail that gets top billing on the bottle – those toasted staves were created using infrared technology. In speaking with Bardstown Bourbon Company’s VP of Hospitality and Product Development Dan Callaway, he told me that the idea behind utilizing infrared toasting was to reduce the tannins from a second barreling. "We were looking for a cooperage to innovate with on barrel maturation and we found the infrared toasted cherry wood was a perfect match for 95/5 rye,” Dan says. “I started about 1.5 years ago and did tons of experiments with bourbon and rye, as well as different toasts.”
We received a 50ml sample. Being a blend of 6 year old Indiana rye with 12 year old Canadian whiskey, this is not exactly a mainstream style. Some of the usual sharpness and definition of the grain feels like it's been soaked up by the oak, yet even from our small taste, the flavour saturation is impressive. Medium spices and bitter dark chocolate rise to moderate the sugars, closing with a mouth coating, oily finish. Is it more like a rye or is it more like a Bourbon? Either way, it's a fascinating take. 55% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Wow, I don’t understand the mad scientist stuff they’re doing at Bardstown, with different types of oak, infrared trickery, and bringing the Canadians into this, but it’s working because Bardstown Bourbon Company West Virginia Great Barrel Company Rye is one of the best rye’s I’ve ever had. It’s almost a crime that I got a free media sample of something this good. - thewhiskeyshelf.com
Notes from the producers... Almond, cinnamon, potpourri, and baked cherry circle traditional rye notes of mint and herbal tea. A luscious mouthfeel leads to a luxurious balance between lightly tannic oak and rich berry compote.

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- 94
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series Foursquare Blended American Whiskey (750ml)

UNITED STATES

$240. 00
Bottle
$2880.00 Dozen

ABV: 53.5%

"...a near-perfect marriage, taking the success of their initial foray into rum-finishing and ratcheting it up a few degrees." - drinkhacker.com
Ninety per cent of this whiskey is seven year old Indiana rye, with the remainder a seventeen year old Tennessee Bourbon. Both were aged for 23 months in x-Foursquare rum barrels from Barbados. The molasses influence is undeniable but not overdone, with just enough whiskey character retained. A 50ml sample kicks off like a high-end rum on the nose, then turns more Bourbonesque. First taste is deliciously rum-like; the second pass builds with Bourbon wood spices, followed by notes of molasses cake, raw sugar, cinnamon and light fruit cake. Unconventional, but this combination really works. 53.5% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 50ml sample.
Other reviews... Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Collaborative Series has been a source of many interesting and creative finished whiskeys over the past few years. In 2022 they released a 10 year old Tennessee bourbon finished for 23 months in Plantation Rum barrels to great results... Foursquare interestingly uses a 7 year old rye as its base whiskey component. In the early days of rum finished whiskey, bourbon was the most common base whiskey being used. But here along with Fortuitous Union, both have utilized rye. Perhaps both companies are looking for a more interesting interplay between their base spirit and their rum influence. The rye spice is apparent throughout, contrasting with the rum notes, throwing balance to the wayside, and ultimately making for a more dynamic sip. By keeping its Foursquare notes in check, this might be an example of taming the beast in order to reap the rewards. The palate manages to nicely delegate its Foursquare flavor notes throughout its sip and with good intensity. As with the Plantation Rum finished bourbon, the Foursquare finished whiskey also struggles a bit on the tail-end of its finish. It’s not as molasses-filled or rich as you’d expect, and more dry and oaky. Bardstown’s Foursquare finished whiskey is on par with their Plantation Rum finished bourbon. Both offer similar flavor profiles, but each offers its own nuances. The Foursquare finished whiskey’s rye component is definitely noticeable as is its 17 year old Tennessee bourbon component. These components don’t necessarily make for a better whiskey, but one with more going on beyond its rum finish. - breakingbourbon.com
...A wonderfully complex bouquet greets the nose as the silky influence of Barbadian rum rushes out of the glass before a shake of rye spice introduces a mint note which is soon followed by milk chocolate, toasted almond, and a waxy plum aroma. On the palate there’s a lush dose of dark chocolate peppered with some of the rye spice from the nose. Though the flavors aren’t as complex as the aromas, it delivers with a depth that makes this release eminently enjoyable. There’s a dash of nutmeg-powdered raisins on the middle of the tongue before the finish unveils tobacco leaf and a measured dollop of molasses indicative of the rum cask’s influence. The texture is just dense enough to avoid being dull, but it’s on the lengthy finish, which is replete with plantain chips and white pepper, where this pour truly soars. For rum fans and whiskey drinkers alike, this new Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series expression is a near-perfect marriage, taking the success of their initial foray into rum-finishing and ratcheting it up a few degrees. Wedding the two worlds works exceedingly well here, showcasing the best of both in a single bottle that is more than worth a try. - drinkhacker.com

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- 87
- 85
Basil Haydens Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)

Kentucky, UNITED STATES

$73. 99
Bottle
$887.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

The recipe for this Bourbon dates back to 1796, when Basil Hayden himself was a Master Distiller. Hayden was born and raised in Maryland, where he learned to make whisky from rye. When he came to Kentucky, Hayden began using a base of corn, but added a higher percentage of rye than other distillers, resulting in a smooth, mild bourbon that was distinctly his own. Nowadays Beam employ a mash bill of 63% corn, 27% rye and 10% malted barley, which is reportedly very close to the original.
Other reviews... Light amber color. Sweet corn, toffee, nuts and charred wood aromas have a lean edge. Round, vibrant entry leads to a dry medium-to full-bodied palate with somewhat lean oak, corn, and caramel flavors. Finishes with a warm wave of toffee, spice, and drying wood. 88 points - tastings.com
...Interesting that the label says “Artfully Aged,” yet there’s no actual age statement. Lively nose, good rye snap and spice, a bit of mint and oaky edge. Not hot, well-behaved on the tongue, and happily gives back everything taken on the nose. Sweet, spicy, and easy to like, this is whiskey without flaw, well-done and tasty, if not overly ambitious or challenging. 85 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Lew Bryson (Fall 2014)
...Pretty old gold/amber color; superb purity. First whiffs encounter small measures of dusty dry cereal grains and black pepper; another six minutes of air contact unleash slightly grander aromas of saddle leather, toasted marshmallow and cooking spice (tarragon, parsley). Entry is gentlemanly, clean, understated and off-dry; midpalate offers moderately generous tastes of oak resin, English toffee/saltwater taffy and light, fresh honey. Concludes light as a feather and agreeably simple. While I think that this latest incarnation shows some fleeting character and stuffing, I recommend BH solely for bourbon newcomers and NOT for old hand bourbon drinkers who are used to big-hearted, rip-snortin’ whiskey. Veteran bourbon devotees won’t care for it, thinking it feeble. I understand that it was designed specifically for novices and the three people in the U.S. who appreciate ethereal bourbon, which by its nature is meant to be robust. - spiritjournal.com
Classic Cocktail: The Old Fashioned. The first use of the specific name 'Old Fashioned' was for a Bourbon whiskey cocktail in the 1880s, at the Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe is said to have been invented by a bartender at that club, and popularized by a club member and bourbon distiller, Colonel James E. Pepper, who brought it to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City. When properly made, this cocktail can represent the pinnacle of the bartenders trade. When done improperly, which is more often the case, it can be a disaster of mediocrity. One of the oldest recipes known going by the name of Old Fashioned, comes from 'Modern American Drinks' by George J. Kappeler, published in 1895: “Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass; add two dashes Angostura bitters, a small piece ice, a piece lemon-peel, one jigger whiskey. Mix with small bar-spoon and serve, leaving spoon in glass”. This very closely resembles the recipe which you should be served by a modern day bartender, but for reasons that are just a little unclear, you will generally be served something totally different.
1/2 Orange Slice, 1 cube of sugar, 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters, 60ml Basil Hayden's Bourbon whiskey (or Rye Whiskey)
Method: Muddle orange, sugar, bitters together until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Fill glass with ice, then add the whiskey. Garnish with a marachino cherry, and perhaps an additional orange slice. Serve with a swizzle stick and/or straw. - notes partially sourced from www.drinkboy.com

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Belgrove Wholly Shit Smokin' Barrel Rye Whisky (500ml)

Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 52%

The smokey flavours in whiskies are usually made by burning peat to dry the freshly malted (sprouted) grain. Sometimes different materials are burnt to produce different flavours. There are many compounds in smoke that get carried through the production process. When these compounds are distilled only some of them boil off and are captured in the final product. To produce this very smokey Tassie Rye, Peter Bignell injected the smoke from burning sheep dung into an empty wet barrel, capturing more of those genuine smoke compounds. It's a very different profile from the normal peated whiskies, summed up by Bignell as "bush fire in a bottle." 52% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
- 95
Belgrove Hopped Malt Cask Strength Whisky (500ml)

Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

$189. 99
Bottle
$2279.88 Dozen

ABV: 61.7%

This distilled IPA retains much of the character of the ale. Viscous bright gold with pronounced hoppiness on the nose as well as notes of potpourri, lavender flower honey and a touch of chamomile. At natural strength, the balance is spot on with the floral / hoppy qualities delivered in an oily rush. The aftertaste is never-ending. A flawless transition from beer to whisky. Unique. 61.7% Alc./Vol. 340 bottles.
Notes from the producer... “Beautiful and complex floral nose, if you didn’t know it was from hops one could imagine being aged in a Sauternes cask.... the alcohol burn is minimal.”

Delivery Information
- 91
- ABV may vary
Belgrove Distillery 100% Rye Whisky (500ml)

Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

$129. 99
Bottle
$1559.88 Dozen

ABV: 46.6%

Note - Alc./Vol. may vary from batch to batch.
Peter Bignell is a true renaissance man – farmer, sculptor, engineer, coppersmith, environmentalist and bio-fuel chemist, and now the distiller of Australia’s first 100% Rye spirit. Peter applied his sculpting and engineering nous (the same abilities employed to restore the historic Nant Water Mill) to build his own 500 litre copper pot still, which he direct fires with his homemade bio-diesel (also used to run his tractors and heat his house).
Keeping things on a self sufficient and sustainable course, the rye grain he uses is also from the family’s Bothwell property. Originally planted by Peter at the tender age of fifteen to feed the property’s livestock, the same field now feeds his still, while the remaining dried mash goes to a swine of pigs where the cycle comes full circle as manure.
Peter's rye whisky has now spent several years in barrels ranging in size from 50 litres to 200 litres. This is his inaugural release, along with a cask strength version. The whiskies have not been chill filtered.
Tasting note: [Batch bottled 2.9.2013, 42% Alc./Vol.] Bright gold appearance. Immediately appealing and distinctive with its dill / pickle opening scents. Second pass offers chamomile tea, hints of boiled lolly, cedary oak and peppermint. A light, silky entry follows through to a super smooth and quite delicate profile featuring medium dry flavours of chamomile tea, sour dough bread and unusual notes of dill and caraway. Dry, mildly tannic finish. Aftertaste is subtle but shows good length.

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- 92
Belgrove Distillery Peated Rye Whisky (500ml)

Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 50%

Those new to Peter's Bignell's exploits will be aware that he has taken the path less traveled; opting to steer away from many the commercial constraints faced with conventional distilling. Peter built and operates the world's only Biodiesel powered still (as of 2014), fuelled from local fish and chip oil collected from takeaway shops in Hobart. The still is direct fired, also used to run his tractors and heat his house - notably these skills were put to task in restoring the historic Nant Water Mill. Grains are grown on a nearby site, with the aim is to keep things self-sufficient and sustainable. The rye grain he uses is also from the family's Bothwell property, originally planted by Peter at the tender age of fifteen to feed the property's livestock, the same field now feeds his still.
This is a grain to glass model with the obvious benefit that all aspects are under his control. Previous releases have shown a great promise and a steady progression toward sheer brilliance. Have we seen the best of this man? We think not, but there's no doubting the intrigue and excitement that comes with every glass.
Peter elaborates further: "I love peated whiskies and I hadn't heard of any peated rye so I decided to make a barrel of it to see how it turned out. I dug some peat from the Central Highlands (Brown Marsh Bog) dried it then burnt it in my malting drum enclosure. The smoke infused into the wet grain and then the heat eventually dried it out. Only 20% of the grain was peat smoked, but it was heavily peated. (no idea of the ppm) The malt was then processed in the usual way by adding 80% unmalted rye grist to the mash. I will have to find a spare day very soon to go and dig some more peat to make a few more barrels. Then 3 years away there might be some more peated rye."
As mentioned, only one barrel of each release has been produced, with the next not due for another 3 years! Inaugural releases are always sought after so take advantage of this world whisky rarity while it lasts.
First release tasted October 2014... Bright straw gold. Initial inhalations reveal powerful scents of sour dough rye followed by cough lozenge. Shifts towards grain store, haystack and chicken shed in a fascinating farmyard twist. Middle-weighted, cough lozenge, granita biscuit and dried grass profile followed by a peppery surge. Dries with light rye bread and dilute vanilla flavours. Less peaty than the nose advertises. Idiosyncratic and unique. 92 points

Delivery Information
- 88
Belle Meade Classic Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

UNITED STATES

$139. 99
Bottle
$1679.88 Dozen

ABV: 45.2%

The suitably labelled pre-Prohibition brand, 'Belle Meade' is nowadays bottled by Nelson’s Green Brier out of Nashville Tennessee. The original Green Brier distillery was shut down during Prohibition, but Nelson’s great-great-great-grandsons revived the brand in 2013. While the company does distill at their Nashville location, the Belle Meade brand uses sourced whiskies from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Hence, it's described as “...a proprietary blend of differing mash bills and yeast strains'' and “is a high rye blend of barrels averaging in age from 6-8 years.” It's variously categorised as a Bourbon, or a Tennessee whiskey, depending on your source.
Other reviews... A warm, welcoming nose, with pleasant dunnage warehouse earthiness, toasted oak, maple syrup, cinnamon, blackberries, grape candy, licorice, and an herbal note. A racy palate offers candied citrus, cherry, and apricot, as well as bitter chocolate, caramel, cinnamon spice, and pepper. Light and delicate on the finish, with milk chocolate, almond, orange, and more cinnamon. Delicate, smooth, sweet, and balanced. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com

Delivery Information
- 92
Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

UNITED STATES

$199. 99
Bottle
$2399.88 Dozen

ABV: 54.15%

One of Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2018.
Belle Meade taste every barrel in their inventory, reserving the ones that taste good enough to be a single barrel but don't maintain a high enough proof. They then batch these reserve barrels with others to raise the overall proof and accentuate the flavours of the reserve barrels. The aim is to create a product that's greater than the sum of its parts. These are genuinely small runs of just seven barrels per batch. The Reserve is a high rye content whiskey around 7-11 years old. Alcohols may vary from batch to batch.
The brand is the work of Charles and W.A. Nelson, great-great-great-grandsons of Charles Nelson, a pre-Prohibition legend who, reportedly, made the first Tennessee whiskey in Robertson County. He was a German immigrant grocer son of a soap - and candlemaker. Charlie adds, “Stories are what propagate cultures, and this is in my mind the American story,” he says. “I just love so many aspects of it. The things that he was involved with were at the core of human culture” — soap, candles, meat, coffee, whiskey — “the basic things that are also the great things.”
Other reviews... Oak, corn sweetness, and tropical fruit collide in this powerful bourbon that suggests grilled pineapple and charred corn on the cob. It handles the proof well, but be prepared for a no-holds-barred tongue lashing of licorice, bitter citrus pith, and oak, before a heaping spoonful of butterscotch pudding quells the heat. Reveals even more flavor with water—blueberry muffin, clove-studded orange, and cedar shingle. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com

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

Highlands, SCOTLAND

Reduced from $120.00
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 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 Malting Season Third Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$140. 00
Bottle
$1680.00 Dozen

ABV: 48.3%

The third annual Malting Season release celebrates the distillery floor maltings which lie at the heart of Benriach distillery. This is a few years older than the first and second editions, with an average age of ten years (combining 9.5 and 10.5 year old stocks malted and distilled in the Autumn of 2012 and 2013). Concerto barley and maturation in a combination of virgin oak casks and first fill ex-bourbon casks continue the established theme. Bottled 2023. 48.3% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... As a reminder, Malting Season is meant to highlight Benriach’s use of floor maltings (for this release only), a bygone and laborious malting process in use by only one other Speyside distillery. At the time of the line’s launch back in 2021, it was suggested that different barley varietals could be used in future releases, but this third edition, like the two that preceded it, has been made with Concerto barley. Likewise, the maturation has continued the trend of dual cask aging in ex-bourbon and American virgin oak casks. The abv, however, is the lowest of the line to date. We’ve enjoyed the pair of past releases. Let’s see if Benriach can nail three in a row. The nose is once again sweet and malty, chock full of cooked cereal notes. The virgin oak cask comes across a little clearer than past releases with plenty of fresh sawn lumber and concentrated vanilla notes that only serve to enhance the freshness of the aroma. Underneath it all, a bit of straw and faint lemon peel continues an ongoing theme. The palate is once again remarkably crisp and clean with a lightly oily body that shows a bit less of the chewy texture from the second edition. Elegant notes of vanilla cream, clover honey, and almond cookies offer an impressive depth of flavor to savor across the sip. A bit of barley spice accentuates a gentle, even warmth and propels things into a sweet, silky finish accented by notes of minted syrup, stone fruit, and lemon candies. As Chris said of the second edition, another banger. - drinkhacker.com
"A fruitcake-like mix of fruity and spicy aromas (dried and fresh orchard fruits, nutmeg, cardamom) fill the nose with a hint of milk chocolate. The palate is rich and malty, with toasted spice flavors, ginger, and cocoa with additional flavor reminiscent of pear cider and mixed dried fruits. There's a well balanced finish that's simultaneously fruity, toasty, and warming with subtle florality." 91 points - distiller.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Freshly harvested barley and orchard fruit meld with wild bergamot, pear and meadowsweet honey layered on gently kilned malt. Taste: Smooth creamy malt carries a burst of clementine, floral honey and gentle barley spice. Finish: Medium long, with apricot, malted almond and traces of wild cherry.

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$160. 00
Bottle
$1920.00 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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- Reduced
Benriach The Forty 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

Reduced from $5,999.00
$4999. 00
Bottle
$59988.00 Dozen

ABV: 43.5%

Brown Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s, acquired Benriach in 2016 and has been slowly lifting the distillery's profile with a slew of premium releases to match better-known neighbours like Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan and Aberlour. While Speyside is not famous for its peated whisky, Benriach committed to using peated malt in the 1970s (albeit in small batch runs). Peat has continued to play a role for over fifty years, an identity that Benriach retains with its recent Smoke Season releases. Their new 40-year-old is a liquid reference to that decision, although the whisky itself won't be particularly peaty. With so much time in barrel, peat is on the retreat, though you might find some antique notes of well-aged soot and char amongst the fruitiness. Master Blender, Rachel Barrie explains “Maturation in fine bourbon casks has gradually developed exquisite notes of honeyed pomelo and lush orchard fruits to create Benriach The Forty. Over the decades, the smoky character of peated Benriach spirit refines and mellows, transforming into ripe fruit sweetness. This intricate character is interwoven with dark notes of chocolate, rich plum and smooth walnut from port casks sourced from the Douro Valley." In conclusion, she adds "...it has been an exceptional opportunity to craft such rare whisky of this age, to express the exquisite nature of Benriach at its peak. At forty years old, Benriach has developed a seamlessly silken fruit and oak complexity, finessed by the fresh Speyside air and enriched by the alluring aromatics of cask maturation age, which I can only describe as the ultimate Speyside delicacy.” 43.5% Alc./Vol. Collectable.

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
1997 Benriach Single Cask No.15059 Oloroso Puncheon 24 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$899. 00
Bottle
$10788.00 Dozen

ABV: 55.7%

This should certainly appeal to sherry heads looking for increasingly elusive age statements at natural strength. Originally exclusively available via French retailer, Le Comptoir Irlandais, it was drawn from first-fill cask number 15059 that previously contained Oloroso sherry. 665 numbered bottles are on offer globally. A tiny fraction of that has landed in Australia. 55.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: stained teakwood. Nose: crème brulée and chocolate-coates hazelnut, with cherrywood, driad apple and fig. Palate: cherry and banana parfait with dark chocolate, toasted vanilla, dried apricot and fresh cream.

Delivery Information
- 93
Benriach Malting Season Second Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$140. 00
Bottle
$1680.00 Dozen

ABV: 48.9%

The inaugural release of this small batch offering yielded around 6600 bottles and was the first expression in a century produced entirely using barley malted from the Speyside distillery's historic floor maltings. For the second edition, Master Blender, Rachel Barrie selected Concerto barley malted in the Autumn of 2013. Stewart Buchanan, global Brand Ambassador at Benriach, commented “Passed from maltster to maltster throughout the generations, the highly skilled process of floor malting keeps a traditional part of the whisky making process alive, paying homage to Benriach’s creative whisky making heritage... Each new edition of Malting Season will use carefully selected types of barley and bottling strength, making each annual edition one of a kind in their own right.”
Aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and bottled at a marginally higher proof than the previous edition, Malting Season 2 is available in select markets for a limited time as of late 2022. We have received a small allocation. While not vastly different to the first release, it does express a fruitier cut with familiar Speyside notes of poached apples and pears plus the texture is slightly amplified with a vanilla cream sponge cake feel building towards the finish, reigned in by a deft touch of oak. Delicious, uncomplicated and broad appeal, Season 2 retains enough character to please seasoned drinkers. It's also a clinic for anyone wanting to appreciate the fundamental flavours of single malt. Tasted from a 30ml sample. 48.9% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The nose has inviting aromas of orange blossom, quince jam, and buttery tea biscuits with a rich layer of vanilla icing. The palate is rich and slightly viscous, reminiscent of butterscotch caramels at first, then takes on more toasty scone notes with a bit of black tea tannic grip, cloves, and a faint bramble florality. The toasty/spicy/orange blossom flavors mixed with vanilla lead into a long, satisfying finish. 92 points - distiller.com

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 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

Delivery Information
- 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

Delivery Information
- 91
Benriach The Twenty One 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

New as of 2021, The Twenty One is another 'updated' core malt in Benriach's portfolio, differentiated by its use of peated barley and maturation in four different types of casks: Bourbon, sherry, virgin oak and Bordeaux red wine. Unlike its previous incarnation, the peat is reported to be quite salient in this expression, with more smoke coming through after every sip. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Sweet and beguiling smokiness, with wild mint, vanilla bean, and chocolate-coated raspberries on a complex, vibrant nose. The mouthfeel is thick and flavorful, with warm notes of sweetened peat, red berries, and dark chocolate, followed by a long, velvety finish offering notes of orange tart, more chocolate, licorice, dark espresso, and a touch of wood-fired brisket. Lively, agreeable, and inviting—like the warm hearth of a mountain cabin at nightfall. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming 2021
...An elegant dram, the nose opens with an array of dried red berries, cocoa powder, lilac, sea spray, and toasted oak. Wonderfully complex palate of dried mango, sweetgrass, and paprika with a touch of peat smoke. Nutty, honeyed, and everlasting finish. 94 points, Excellent, Highly Recommended - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021
"The nose is dry and citrusy with a breeze of gingery spiciness. On the palate, candied ginger, grapefruit peel, cinnamon and pine needle add a freshness, with cocoa and more woodsiness on the palate. It's quite drying on its own. A drop of water imparts a more ginger bread/ginger snap taste. This would be a good whisky to sip alongside charcuterie or a bacon tart! " 91 points - distiller.com

Delivery Information
- 94
Benriach The Twenty Five 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$550. 00
Bottle
$6600.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

There have been at least two 25s offered by Benriach in the last decade. This latest expression sees maturation in ex-bourbon, sherry, virgin oak and Madeira casks. Compared to The Twenty One, the profile is noticeably heavier, more textural and the smokiness more reserved. Four years of extra ageing combined with the richness of Madeira makes an impact. The reviews are great from all quarters. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Subtlety sets the tone on this well-matured whisky, starting with the gentle smokiness of the nose, presenting as smoked almonds and crème brûlée, along with snickerdoodles, honey, marmalade, dried apricots, milk chocolate, and brown sugar. Water brings out black licorice, dried ginger, and hazelnut cream. Oily citrus, dried apricot and fig, milk chocolate, and candied ginger on the palate, with drying smoke and char. It finishes with cocoa powder, char, and well-woven spice and dried fruit. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton 2021
...You could spend a long time digging through the layers of sherry, bourbon, and madeira casks in this 25 year old malt, but it’s on the palate that the mellowed spirit truly shines. The smoke has fully integrated with the fruit, spice, and wine flavors to create a fully developed, satisfying dram. 94 points - Excellent, Highly Recommended - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021
"Jaffa cake in a glass! Think Stewed apricots, dates and figs spread on a buttery biscuit and covered with milk chocolate. A bit of sweet almond/marzipan adds to the richness, though the tartness of the fruit plays off the toasted oakiness in the back palate. The overall effect is rich and soothing to sip." 94 points - distiller.com

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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

$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 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)

Delivery Information
- 93
- 90
- Discontinued
- Reduced
Benriach Birnie Moss Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

Reduced from $109.99
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 48%

"...juicy, fabulously smoked... Young & stunning."
- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible

Another progression in Benriach's smokey foray, this one peated at 35ppm, up there with some of Islay's biggest and best. Comes non chill filtered.
Retasted 2020... Compared to the Peated cask strength version, the peat feels more densely layered - no doubt as was the intention. But it's the length and exquisite freshness at the tangy finish that really grabs you. Makes you wonder how they pulled it off. A gem for the price.48% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Youthful, fresh barley and lively, clean smoke; juicy, fabulously smoked, wet behind the ears gristy sugars; some vanillas try to enter a degree of complexity... before Birnie Moss started shaving... or even possibly toddling. Young and stunning.
90 points- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020
First tasted 2014... [15ml sample] Pale gold. Wax or damp earth in the opening sniffs? Transforms as vanilla and sooty peat develop over biscuity malt. Vaguely grassy flavours with lanolin followed by vanilla laced peat. More woolshed and aniseed honey-like at the finish. Lively spirit but everything in balance. Lovely freshness in the aftertaste. 90 points 48% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
- 92
- Reduced
Benrinnes Flora & Fauna 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

Reduced from $169.99
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

"Admirable - that they would have kept this very unusual fat malt within the range." - whiskyfun.com
Benrinnes mavens will know that the distillery started a two-and-a-half distillation from 1974 (similar to Springbank), producing what's been described as "a rather-Mortlach-like meaty spirit" that's also been compared with Clynelish. In 2007 they changed back to a double distillation, however the set up maintains a few production quirks like Mortlach. In addition, Benrinnes is one of the last to use traditional worm tubs for condensation. The Flora & Fauna bottling represents some of last remaining distillate from the 'two-&-a-half-times' era, and epitomises the house style as a heavier malt, matured primarily in European oak. It's one of those sherried styles where the richness of the malt and the sherry find symmetry. This bottling also captures some of that beefy character often associated with the distillery. Rich dried fruitcake flavours feature in a full-bodied delivery, complexed by hints of port-soaked tobacco, malt extract, fruit'n'nut dark chocolate, coffee cake and peppery warmth. The distinctive - almost chewy - mouthfeel is perhaps the defining element here, and retasting over several days found the whisky continued to improve. Kudos to Diageo for bottling Benrinnes at what feels like an appropriate age. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Right, not totally randomly. Last time I tried this expression that was around the year 2000 (WF 83). A worthy aperitif yet again, I hope. Colour: gold. Nose: there, no truce this time, the whistle blows and we’re in action. Tallow and marrow, parsley, bouillons, ham, onion soup, dry sherry, plus most certainly some umami as well as the 6th aroma, the aroma/taste of fat, which is called oleogustus, apparently (sounds a bit like dog Latin, no?) There’s also a thing called kokumi, but we still need to check that. Mouth: so, kokumi and oleogustus (joking only a bit) and a huge fatness indeed, rarely to be experienced with any whiskies. In short, more tallow and marrow, ground coffee, salt, miso, and Maggi. Spectacular, but perhaps a little unlikely at times. Finish: long, very meaty and salty. Chorizo and beef juice. Really. Comments: totally odd – and admirable - that they would have kept this very unusual fat malt within the range. Perhaps more a sauce than malt whisky, after all. 86 points - whiskyfun.com

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$130. 00
Bottle
$1560.00 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

$150. 00
Bottle
$1800.00 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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2012 Benromach Contrasts Kiln Dried Oak Virgin Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$150. 00
Bottle
$1800.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

A new concept in the Contrasts series aims at creating a range of styles that are deliberately different to the core Benromach line up. In this example, first-fill kiln-dried virgin oak has been used for the maturation. It would seem that the idea is to emphasise the importance of oak in whisky making, and the different sensory experiences different woods and/or drying methods can bring.
The 'KD' stamp will be familiar to carpenters and is the standard procedure for removing moisture from timber for construction and furniture manufacture. A new felled white oak tree contains around 60% water, so when the quarter-sawn lumber arrives at the cooperage, before it can be shaped and put to use it has to be dried out. Whether to kiln dry or air dry oak (or a bit of both) is for some a small detail in barrel production but it's also argued that it can have a major impact on flavour. Benromach's kiln dried matured edition promises a creamy and tropical whisky with subtle smoke and menthol notes. To taste this against the distillery's air-dried matured expression would be an interesting exercise. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... This time the oak was only air dried for 24 months, then kilned for a short period of time. Colour: gold, very faintly darker. Nose: close, but a tad fruitier and a little less on pencil shavings. I also find it a little more floral, with some jasmine, also blood oranges. I believe the differences should be even more obvious on the palate, let's see… Mouth: this kiln-dried Benromach anytime. More lemon and grapefruit, lemon marmalade, orange blossom honey, Thai coriander, lemongrass, cough drops, cracked pepper… Anytime, really, a no-brainer. Finish: you still feel a few wood shavings and a wee plankish side, but the 'Thai-style citrus' is always having the upper hand. Comments: of course, we remain in very similar styles, but in the end, this 'Kiln Dried' wins hands down in my opinion. 86 points - whiskyfun.com

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

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$140. 00
Bottle
$1680.00 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 40 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2022 Release

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

$3499. 00
Bottle
$41988.00 Dozen

ABV: 57.6%

Benromach's second annual release of what is one of the oldest official bottlings on record is limited to just 1,132 bottles worldwide, slightly up on last years. Bottled at a cask strength of 57.6% and laid down in finest first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, it was drawn from stocks laid down well-before current owners Gordon & Macphail took over in 1992. According to several reports it's a sherry extravaganza and comes with another big review from whiskyfun.com. Suitably presented in a striking black stained solid oak wooden box with copper-coloured detailing and printed metal plaques, a bespoke Benromach bottle features an embossed gold foiled label and completes the quality feel. Collectable.
Other reviews... Benromach's latest 40 yo, last year, was utterly stunning (WF 93) while an earlier version at 43% vol., named 'Heritage' had been almost as much to my liking (WF 91). The Distillery's mildly peaty style makes wonders, but it is to be remembered that these batches had still been distilled and filled by ex-owners United Distillers, later to be merged into Diageo. Also remember that the Distillery got closed in 1983, only to be restarted by current owners Gordon & MacPhail in 1998. So, in theory, next year's possible 40 yo would make for the last proper 40 before… 2038. Let's first find a proper sparring partner…Colour: full gold. Nose: a little unusual given that this should be ex-first fill sherry, with rather more butterscotch than expected as well as some cassata and that very insane thing you'll sometimes find in Italy, proper caramel ice-cream, this time covered with blackberry cream or liqueur. Works with guignolet/Heering too. Behind that, pipe tobacco and drier raisins, plus something that really makes me think of certain old armagnacs I've enjoyed so much lately. With water: drier, rather on old teas, including our beloved old pu-ehrs that we keep mentioning. Mouth (neat): grand. Walnuts in all their guises, as cakes, tartes, liqueurs, wines and cordials. With water: some sweetness now, fruitcake, marmalade, baklavas, kumquats (dag!) and, this time again, a tiny Campbeltownian side. Spent engine grease, you know. Finish: long, splendid. Tobacco, marmalade, sweet mustard and walnuts. Oh and 'engine grease' indeed. A classic cocoa – coffee – cigars combo in the aftertaste. Comments: I agree this whisky deserved a longer tasting note, but there, my glass is empty. Another very good sign. 92 points - whiskyfun.com

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