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    • Hot Item
    • 93
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    Glen Grant 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $1,399.00
    $1199. 00
    Bottle
    $14388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    One in a trio that make up Glen Grant’s “Glasshouse Collection.” At the time of writing, these are the oldest expressions in the distillery’s permanent lineup. The 25yo comes matured in oloroso sherry casks and x-bourbon barrels, bottled at 46% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... Part of the distillery’s Glass House Collection, which also includes a 30 year old and a 21 year old. Earthy and dry, with cut grass aromas at first, then licorice, underripe banana, and orange peel. Sweeter and viscous on the palate, with apples, plums, vanilla, a hint of orange, baking spice, and black pepper. The finish is medium-length, with more vanilla. Sweet, fresh, syrupy, delicious, and lively for a 25 year old. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com

    ...Dehydrated pear, apple juice, light baking spice, and freshly baked challah rolls start off the nose. It’s quite light in character, with touches of oak and a tiny bit of pine sap, but still fragrant enough for individual scents to stick around long enough in the nostrils. Salty taffy develops over the course of minutes, adding polite sweetness and salinity that pairs well with the wood scents. The whisky is comparatively richer at first sip, which is both highly viscous and richly spiced, like milk caramel infused with nutmeg, vanilla extract, and mint sprigs. Tart green apple, orange bitters, and unripe pineapple form a backbone of fruit that builds toward the midpalate. Taken together, they’re a nice foil to the spicy sweetness, the whisky never quite settling fully into sweet or sour but existing harmoniously at their intersection throughout most parts of the sip. The finish turns toward macchiato and baking chocolate, topped with a barely-there layer of thin, woody caramel. A final pop of peeled apple skins and campfire embers wraps things up with a kiss of cooked fruit. This begs return after return to the glass and nearly warranted an even higher score. - drinkhacker.com

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    Glen Grant Batch Strength 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $139.99
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    ABV: 50%

    "Long , languid, lilting and lush." - 97 points, Jim Murray.
    Easily one of the more compelling single malt whisky deals of the year.

    If you loved the extra depth of flavour of Glenfiddich's hugely popular 50% ABV 'Distillery Edition', then this beauty from Glen Grant promises similar pleasures. Made by Dennis Malcolm, the longest serving Master Distiller in Scotland (born at Glen Grant Distillery in 1946), Jim Murray was blown away with the quality (review below), while it was the "Editor's Pick" at Whisky Advocate in 2021. Originally released for the American market, this is all about showcasing Glen Grant's superbly fruity distillate (think apples and pears). Taste-wise it's a sister style to high-strength Glenfiddichs or Glenlivets (lightly honeyed and fruity). A proper ABV and what seems like minimal chill filtration make it stand out from the mainstream Speyside pack. Also awarded a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition - if you needed more convincing.

    Other reviews... A mesmerising display of juicy barley tones which gradually integrate with and then embrace the fragile tannins. Just a little extra buttery oil from the upped strength aids in the longevity of these sensations and gives the mid ground far more weight and substance than you might have expected... though the salivation levels are still high... Long , languid, lilting and lush right to the very end with a little lime blossom honey lightened the Lunjek marzipan... What a malt this has now become! The fact that two successive bottlings have blown me off my tasting desk means they appear to have nailed the personality of this malt, and in so doing extracting and then displaying the extraordinary and unique charm of this distillery. 97 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021

    Bright, fresh, and sweet on the nose, with green apple, melon, sugared lemon slice, almond cream, vanilla, and a hay field in the sun. The proof gives this ample body and allows flavors of fizzy lemon, fresh ginger, orange scone, caramel-dipped apple, honeysuckle, and toasted coconut to spread out over a layer of savory oak. It’s not quick to move on, lingering with a rounded finish of white pepper, fresh ginger, lemon oil, and oak. (Editors' Choice) 50% Alc./Vol.
    92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)

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    • Packaging may vary
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    Glen Grant 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $89.99
    $64. 99
    Bottle
    $779.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    "GG10 remains, if found at a bar, my single malt of choice." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26

    Glen Grant is named after its two founders, James and John Grant who built the distillery in Rothes in 1840. After their death, the son of James, Major James Grant took over the business, and built another distillery across the road naming it “Glen Grant II” (today known as Caperdonich). The Major always aimed at producing a first rate malt, and so designed the distilleries especially tall, slender stills and purifiers himself. He reputedly enjoyed leading guests through his exotic gardens to a nearby falls where, taken from his secret whisky safe, he’d offer drams of Glen Grant accompanied by spring water drawn from the same Speyside burn that still feeds the distillery today. When the Major died, his grand son, Major Douglas Mackessack took over the distillery, continuing its success.

    Like most distilleries, Glen Grant closed its doors during the two World Wars due to a lack of barley and has since changed ownership several times. The distillery was sold in 2006 to the Italian group, Campari as a result of the acquisition of Allied Domecq by Pernod Ricard. It remains one of the world's best-selling single malts (being especially popular in Italy).

    Matured in x Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, the ten year old offers light, fresh, easy-drinking, with a mildly fruity bouquet (nashi pear), hints of dried grass, and subtle flavours of biscuity malt, vanilla and cinnamon; orchard fruits returning at the finish. 40% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... Only Glen Grant at 10 can be this delicate, this refined, this understated and still unbelievably complex. It is this magical formula that every single malt distillery aspires to but only a small handful achieve. It is for this reason GG10 remains, if found at a bar, my single malt of choice. 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26

    (n23.5) OK: let's take turns in counting the rungs on the barley ladder here...the usual crisp aroma, but softened by deft, if unspecific fruitiness (maybe the distant aroma of a very old orange and by no means unpleasant!), myriad vanilla and butterscotch notes can do without the toffee one; (t24) magnificent! A malty delivery which simultaneously melts in the mouth, yet offers granite-like barley that crashes into your teeth; the star, perhaps are the sugars which vary from caster, through golden syrup and pans out somewhere in the muscovado range - curiously honey-free, though; (f23) a tad tangy, though the caramel returns to turn out the lights after the butterscotch and marzipan say goodnight...; (b23.5) unquestionably the best official 10yo bottling i have tasted from this distillery. Absolutely nails it! Oh, and had they bottled this at 46% abv and without the trimmings...my word! Might well have been a contender for Scotch Whisky of the Year. It won't be long before word finally gets out just how bloody good this distillery is. 95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2013

    Awarded: 'Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Years & Under' - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015

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    • Packaging may vary
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    Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Campbeltown, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $179.99
    $149. 99
    Bottle
    $1799.88 Dozen
    ABV: 54.2%

    94.5 points from Jim Murray, World's Best No Age Statement Whisky for 2022 / Category Winner 2024, Platinum at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024... and the list goes on.

    2024 isn't the first time significant praise has been lavished on Glen Scotia's 'Victoriana'. The cask strength release also captured the judge's attention at the 2022 World Whisky Awards where it was deemed World's Best No Age Statement Whisky, and before that in 2017, describing it as "An incredible whisky, packed with complexity." Add to that further endorsement from Jim Murray and you have the single malt equivalent of a slam dunk. Created in the vein of Scotch during the mid-to-late 19th century – the reign of Queen Victoria, hence the name - Victoriana is initially matured in ex-bourbon casks after which 30% sees a secondary spell in first-fill Pedro Ximénez (sweet) Sherry casks and 70% is finished in new heavily charred American oak. Weighing in at a generous 54.2%, purists will also love the fact that it's non chill filtered for maximum mouthfeel. There aren't that many single malts that you would consider buying repeatedly, but going by our experience of an earlier batch, this is one. Expect a flavour extravaganza.

    Other reviews... n23.5 this has come out as gung-ho crushed hazelnut and barley. The subtlest hint of smoke makes you do a nasal double-take: is it there or not? It is...; t24 a fizzing display of ultra-lively, salivating tannins - a malt revelling in some sublime American oak. And if that isn't juicy enough, the barley pitches in to up the salivation score even further; f23 an elegant climb down. Drier, a little spice but some sexy cocoa notes moving towards praline; b24 as cheerfully bright and breezy a malt as you are likely to find and one bursting with deceptive complexity. If this is trying to depict your average bottle of whisky from Victorian Campbeltown, then it has failed miserably: it was never this good...! 54.2% Alc./Vol. 94.5 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2024

    ...I’m glad that Glen Scotia Victoriana does not have artificial caramel coloring because it is gorgeous in the glass, and I would feel a bit cheated knowing that the brilliant hue was artificially created. The time in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks (although we don’t know exactly how long) provides a deep, slightly red, golden color. The nose is complex with slightly sweet caramel, brown sugar, pineapple, mango, and a touch of cinnamon. On the palate, the whisky fairly bursts with a range of flavors that are integrated into a cohesive whole but can be separated out and appreciated individually: crème brûlée, milk chocolate, sea salt, and caramel. Interestingly, the fruit notes that appear on the nose do not translate to the palate. But the whisky is creamy, mouth coating, and rich without being overpowering. A touch of water makes the milk chocolate notes more prominent, and I recommend it. The finish is quite long and introduces a touch of mint and spice that slowly fades along with salted caramel and milk chocolate. This is fantastic Scotch. It is both simply enjoyable and rewards further contemplation. It lacks an age statement, but it makes a statement with its quality and character. - drinkhacker.com

    Double Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017

    Best Campbeltown Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2017.

    After a period of closure in the mid 1980s Glen Scotia reopened towards the end of that decade. The distillery has always offered two styles of whisky - peated and non peated. Typically the latter is produced for about six weeks annually. Since 1999 it was distilling for only a few weeks of the year, thanks to the team at Springbank. Activity has been stepped up since 2007 with Malt Master, John Paterson at the helm. With just over a kilometre between them, speculation as to whether Glen Scotia will be the next Springbank is inevitable. Given the distillery's versatility and quality of output, the potential is there, but it probably won't balloon anytime soon (then again, just a few years ago many seasoned whisky lovers were oblivious to Springbank...) Place your bets. Right now, here's another perfect excuse to get better acquainted with Glen Scotia. 

    [51.5% batch tasted] Gleaming polished copper appearance. Momentarily off-key followed by sultry aromas of toasted fruit-bread, pineapple pudding and deep vanillas. Five minutes exposure emphasises dark chocolate and roasted nuts amid flashes of sappy oak and trace sulphur. Exceptional balance. Full bodied yet perfectly rounded. Mid palate is toffee-dense, malt-rich becoming tantalizingly oily / buttery towards the finish. Honey oatmeal, vanilla fudge and resiny oak to close with a wound up, mouth coating stewed fruit / vanilla / creme-caramel and pepper finale. Ends medium long with the honeyed-fruitiness lingering. One for the end of the night. Non chill filtered. 95 points

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    • Packaging may vary
    • Nick's Import
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    The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $179.99
    $149. 99
    Bottle
    $1799.88 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    Billy Walker's attempt to create "the essence of Speyside" is realised in this heavily sherried expression. The first batch quickly sold out in the UK. The current version features a packaging update that debuted around 2024. All the barrels were sourced from Miguel Martin. Slightly more than half were PX puncheons and butts with the remainder being ex-Oloroso. There's also a small addition of 200 litre medium toast virgin oak in the mix, plus some red wine casks. The result is another whisky where the appearance alone will get your appetite going, especially if you're into sherried malts. It pours a fabulous, deep polished mahogany colour and follows through with aromas of orange zest, raisin cake and fruit’n'nut dark chocolate while offering a decent attack at just 46%. Revealing more zesty freshness, gingery warmth and less of the over-the-top opulence of many recent Glenallachies, the flavour ledger tilts towards oloroso here with an almost tart, peel character competing with the PX. Dates, raisins, roasted nuts and an interesting twist of liquorice carry the aftertaste. All up, a solid sherried addition to the distillery’s ever-expanding stable that fares best after 5-10 minutes air contact. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

    Other reviews... Lashed with rich sherry aromas of baked orange, cherry, currants, chopped peel, ground cinnamon, and cocoa powder; it’s rich and intense, and pulsing with bold sherry cask character. Dark chocolate and Seville orange marmalade kick off the palate, with Nutella, black pepper, oak, cola, sultana, and some ground coffee flavors. A warming finish with dark chocolate and citrus notes. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com

    ...almost five years after it was first introduced, it can certainly compete with comparable single malts – such as the Tamdhu 15 Years, or the aforementioned GlenDronach 15... It's not subtle, but occasionally that's okay. I wouldn't soon call the GlenAllachie 15 Years an easy sipper. No, it's too intense for that. But sometimes intense is good. In moderation. As always. - wordsofwhisky.com

    Notes from the producers... NOSE: Overflowing with raisins, butterscotch and sweet spices. TASTE: The rainbow of sweet spices, raisins and butterscotch develops to banana, orange peel and dark chocolate.

    Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

    • Hot Item
    Glenfarclas 105 16 Year Old Special Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 60%

    In 1968, Chairman George S Grant (4th generation) selected and bottled a cask at natural strength for family and friends as a Christmas gift. The liquid was 105 British proof which is equivalent to 60% alcohol by volume. The high strength whisky was so popular that George continued to bottle Glenfarclas at 105 proof making it one of the first official releases of cask strength Scotch whisky in the world. So the Glenfarclas 105 was born! In 2023, the new management sought to up the ante with a proper age statement at this potent ABV with a very limited bottling of 16-year-old curated by Distillery Manager, Callum Fraser and Managing Director, Douglas Belford. Embodying the full bodied Glenfarclas style, it's reported that this is limited to around 5000 bottles globally.

    Notes from the producers... Colour: Rich copper. Nose: Instant notes of soft butterscotch, vanilla essence, and exquisite bold spices. Taste: Deeply complex flavours with stewed berry fruits, melted butter toffee combined with freshly baked almond biscuits. Finish: A velvet finish with lingering notes of subtle sherry and tantalising dark chocolate that leaves you wanting more.

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    • Nicks Exclusive
    • Limit Two per customer
    2014 Glenfarclas Single Cask #51 for Nicks Wine Merchants 8 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $325. 00
    Bottle
    $3900.00 Dozen
    ABV: 59.8%

    160 bottles available exclusively via Nicks Wine Merchants.

    If you ever wondered what the fuss over Glenfarclas' Family casks was all about but couldn't afford to find out, don't hesitate to start here. As much as we'd like to imagine that this whisky will be enjoyed amongst friends, it has all the hallmarks of a collectable: a tiny outturn from a distillery with pedigree, first-rate liquid and a bespoke label. You might drink one and try to keep the other, but our bet is the second bottle is going to prove too tempting. In fact, you could not do much better from any of the distillery's neighbours at this age: Cask #51 buries young Macallan or Glendronach and is almost dripping with sherry, kicking off with juicy dried apricots, dried prunes, raisin cake and cinnamon over hints of chocolate oranges in a caramel setting, wrapped up in a mid palate succulence that's pure and sustained while showing extraordinary balance and mouthfeel. The malt and sherry sweetness gently bitters as the sugars wear off and spices enter. Add water, and the entire profile remains beautifully defined. It's young Speyside malt showing off in an audacious fashion that sets it apart from Glenfarclas' official releases. Distilled in 2014 and filled into a first-fill Sherry hogshead before decanting in November 2022, 160 bottles are available for those fortunate enough to get their hands on one. Anybody who knows about 'AREA 51' from UFO folklore will understand the cryptic label reference - an alien is jealously guarding a cask (word has got around, Glenfarclas make some of the best whisky in the galaxy!) 59.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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    • Nick's Import
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    Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $179.99
    $149. 99
    Bottle
    $1799.88 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    Famous as one of Speyside’s most masculine whiskies, Glenfarclas 15 is matured in 60% x-Sherry casks, with the remainder x-Bourbon, but with a difference. The latter barrels are shaved back in order to minimise their flavour input, putting the focus almost completely on the sherry. Bottled at 46%, the result is one of most full-bodied in the Glenfarclas stable. It's also one that tasters tend to notice the most batch variation in. Re-tasted in early 2022, the latest bottling takes some time to develop and blow off minor sulphur blemishes. Aromas pick up speed, echoed in attractively sherried flavours of raisin cake, fruit mince pie and digestif biscuits. The finish adds suggestions of pickled ginger and baking spices. Though not long, the flavours are surprisingly intense, well-proportioned and approachable without dilution. Give a freshly opened bottle thirty minutes to begin to show its best. 46% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... Some classic sherried Speysider that everyone should have tried. WF 84 last time I had, but that was in… 2006 (feeling shame here at WF Towers). Colour: gold. Nose: not that different from the 10, just cake-ier, more sherried, and rather more complex, with small herbs, a mossy side, and a large chocolate cake. Touches of yeasty porridge in the background. Fresh pumpernickel bread. Mouth: really very cake-y, malty, with raisins and some very lovely touches of spearmint. I’m also finding a delicate wood smoke, as well as the usual walnuts when we’re having a sherried malt such as this one. Goody good. Finish: rather long, and shall I dare mention Christmas cakes? And yet it’s not heavy. Comments: I just couldn’t tell you which one I like best, between the 10 and the 15. Both are top class in their categories. 46% Alc.Vol. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

    ...Energetic, heady, rich. Wakes up the palate and demands to be heard. The marshmallow note is uncanny and overpowers the rest of the dram at points, but overall this regains its footing, albeit with a somewhat abbreviated finish. All in, a step up from the 12 year old expression and solid value for money. - malt-review.com

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    • 93
    • Nick's Import
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    Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $399.00
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    PLEASE NOTE: Glenfarclas whiskies are known for occasionally having cork issues. Because natural cork is used, it’s not uncommon for the cork to break when opening. This doesn’t indicate any fault with the whisky - it remains perfectly good to enjoy.

    With the Edrington group having priced extra-aged Macallans well beyond the reach of the average wallet, (pay $4000+ for the 25YO) Sherry enthusiasts searching for that something special have few options left. Enter Glenfarclas: When you buy a bottle of this you support one of Scotland's only independent family-owned distilleries.

    Quarter-century aged Scotch is not getting cheaper. Arran, Dalwhinnie, Glenfiddich, Highland Park, Old Pulteney, Laphroaig, Talisker, Caol Ila, Glenrothes and Glengoyne currently have an average retail price of close to $700. Add Macallan, Lagavulin, Springbank and Ardbeg to the mix and the average jumps up to around $1200! It's inevitable that the price for 25 year old single malt Scotch will settle somewhere between these two values. (Even Single Grains and Blends with similar age statements are becoming less and less accessible).

    Tasting note: Bright gold with a pale straw hue. Some real class and depth to the nose which offers powerful aromas of prune, roasted nuts, honey and freshly polished floorboards. Smells expensive. Mouthfilling, and with an unexpected degree of 'tingle' for whisky of this age. Glorious at mid palate, serving up delicious honey and dried fruit flavours over rich, spicy, sugar-laced malt. Medium long with a delicate aftertaste of dried fruit and sweet leather. Aristocratic. Would make a perfect after dinner malt. Some tasters drew comparisons with Macallan 18. 43% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... This flavorful single malt offers enticing caramel on nose and palate, enlivened with marmalade and spicy cinnamon. The finish is long and mouthwatering, warming all the way down, closing with salted caramel, dark chocolate and orange peel. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com

    ...Earthy notes of dried leaves, wet wool, and a hint of maltiness start things off on the nose, then citrus and red apple. The palate is sweet and balanced, offering warm apple tart, cinnamon, cooked blueberries, raisins, toffee, and Christmas cake, with a slight and appealing hint of soapiness. A lengthy finish brings chocolate cake, glazed orange, pfeffernusse cookies, and winter spice. A delicious holiday warmer. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming 2021

    "Shows some staggering age - seemingly way beyond the 25-year age statement." - Jim Murray.

    Gold Medal - Distillers' Single Malts 21 years old and over - 2019 International Spirits Challenge

    Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009.

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    • 84
    • Nick's Import
    • Discontinued
    Glenfarclas 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $230. 00
    Bottle
    $2760.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    Big age statement + Large format = Guilt free dramming. No longer available overseas and rumoured to be discontinued.

    A large format Glenfarclas that delivers quaffing excellence, reflecting the philosophy of distillery manager, John Grant: "Whisky is for drinking!" And if you think the packaging is a little 1970s, it's also deliberate: “It’s not over packaged" explains Grant, "it just comes out in a plain carton – and we have lots of it. We make a reasonable margin, and I’d rather people drank it than collected it”. Normally duty free exclusive. At this price, John, we salute you!

    Tasting note: Bright amber gold. Nosing reveals husky malt with some sherry influence evident. Second pass finds hints of mulch, honey, vanilla and dried fruits (raisin / fig). Medium dry and in the moderately Sherried vein; mid palate builds with suggestions of honey drizzled muesli; firmish tannins and warming spices carrying the finish. Ends aperitif-like and fine, medium long. 43% Alc./Vol

    Other reviews... Tight, nutty and full of crisp muscovado sugar. 84 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015

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    • Nick's Import
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    Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $174.99
    $129. 99
    Bottle
    $1559.88 Dozen
    ABV: 60%

    Cask strength whiskies have not always been available to the general public. In fact, the very idea was incidental, and only materialised in 1968 when a fourth generation member of the Grant family bottled a single cask straight from the warehouse, and sent the bottles to family and friends as Christmas gifts. George S. Grant created a simple, hand written label for the bottles noting only the name of the distillery and the strength of the whisky (which happened to be 105 British Proof.) By the end of January the recipients requested further bottles. George obliged, and since then, Glenfarclas 105 has gone onto become one of the most highly sought after expressions in the Glenfarclas range.

    The increasing popularity of cask strength single malts comes as no surprise. They provide an opportunity to taste whisky in its purest and most natural form without visiting a distillery, and conversely, to dilute to your preferred strength rather than the bottler's. Typically, they have minimal or zero filtration which tends to retain more flavour and texture. One has to take the good with the bad. Extreme alcohol can be prickly, and can even anaesthetise the mouth resulting in a less pleasurable experience. A high tax/alcohol ratio also means such spirits can be excessively pricey. If there was a holy grail of malt, then for many it would be the discovery of affordable cask strength whisky that's also achieved balance - to the degree that you can enjoy it undiluted. This is one. There are 'softer' cask strength releases on the market, but rarely in this style.

    Tasting note: Beautiful polished brass / amber gold. Opening pass detects toffee apple, polished leather and juicy, grapey malt. Second pass finds marzipan and toasted oats followed by crunchie bar and intense vanilla. The aromatic range is matched on the palate, delivering a concentrated, medium dry, peppery attack with a delicious interplay between sugar, tannin and spice. Bracing yet balanced. Finishes with flashes of dates, creme-caramel and crunchie bar before drying with oatmeal biscuit, toffee apple and dappled explosions of sweet spice. Those who religiously follow Aberlour's Abunadh will discover similar thrills here. Tremendous whisky. 60% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... long, luxurious, with a pulsing vanilla grape mix and a build up of spices; light oils intensify and elongate. I doubt if any restorative on the planet works quite as well as this one does. Or if any sherry cask whisky is so clean and full of the joys of Jerez. A classic malt which has upped a gear or two and has become exactly what it is: a whisky of pure brilliance. 95.5 points
    - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2014

    ...This Scotch is named for the proof (105) of a bottle that Chairman John Grant’s father, George S. Grant, bottled in 1968 as a Christmas gift for family and friends. Nut-colored, it has a markedly bold toffee aroma and lots of flavor and drama. Hazelnut, espresso and cocoa flavors linger, with hints of allspice and drying oak tannins. Though it needs more than a splash of water to arrive at a nuanced sippability, don’t hold that against this almost Bourbon-like beauty. 95 points - wineenthusiast.com

    ...Sweet scents of Boston cream pie, citrus, and fresh forest, growing more fragrant as the liquid rests in the glass. On the palate, the citrus sweetens to baked orange tart and lemon meringue pie, with underpinnings of chocolate malt, raisins, and pepper spice. The mouthfeel is creamy and concentrated, and the finish is like a rich, full, spiced chocolate dessert. Water enhances things, bringing out more spice and chocolate. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming 2021

    ...I'm really following these seminal NASses, the 104-then-105, but last time I tried it that was in 2017 (WF 86). Colour: light gold. Didn't the 105 lose some colour over time? Nose: I seem to remember quite some sherry used to be involved, but this time we're rather on malty and leafy stuff, fruit peelings, honey-glazed vegetable (try that, eggplants, turnips…) and beers. With water: beers, bitters, roasted nuts, pumpernickel. The blackest, moistest breads. Mouth (neat): I find this extremely good, if a little brutal, which was the whole point anyway. Huge maltiness, roasted nuts, concentrated syrups, artichokes and Brussels sprouts, stout… With water: takes water extremely well, it is ready for the 100 metres freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics. Excellent sweeter maltiness, barley syrup... Finish: rather long, perhaps a tad sweet(ish) but all these breads and grains can't be wrong. Comments: gold medal! What a drop, this 105, one day post-Covid we'll go to the distillery and do the largest verticale of 104-105s that's ever been done. For example, this one was maltier, and less sweet than a 2017 batch.
    87 points - whiskyfun.com

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    • Nick's Import
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    Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Perpetual Collection Vat 03 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $199.99
    $129. 99
    Bottle
    $1559.88 Dozen
    ABV: 50.2%

    Glenfiddich as you may never have experienced it before. Elsewhere pay $200+

    "epitomically Glenfiddichian... long, on apples, marzipan and amaretti." - whiskyfun.com

    Along with Number 4, Vat 03 in Glenfiddich's Travel Retail Perpetual Collection is arguably the more appealing for drinkers, partly because of its age statement and partly because it lands at a higher ABV than numbers one and two. Also created via a Solera vat process which adds continuous layers of flavour by only ever bottling half the whisky in the vats before refilling, this edition was matured in x-sherry European oak and x Bourbon casks. Tasted straight, Vat 03 delivers vibrant orchard fruits and vanillan oak giving the sensation of fruit yoghurt, or perhaps the whisky equivalent of peaches and cream. Adding ice or water instantly emphasises the zero chill filtration, ramping up the juicy, malty mouthfeel and providing a finishing lick of vanilla, baking spice and hints of marzipan. Aimed at showcasing 'Fiddich's signature style, Vat 03 is predictably true to the malt they churn out in large volumes - and for good reason - it’s proved hugely popular and is incredibly accessible, only here there’s more of everything, which means extra bang for your buck. It's yet another delicious, seamless, and dare we say, smashable Glenfiddich. You'll find it hard to stop at one. 50.2% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... There's new oak, bourbon and European oak sherry inside. Colour: gold. Nose: feels bourbony at first, with even a little putty and light varnish, as well as marzipan, before it would become all a matter of apples (and a few pears), something that I've always found epitomically Glenfiddichian. Fresh, stewed, a juice, as compote, even as jam, even as eau-de-vie (some varietals do work, others remain bland). With water: the largest bag of ripe and overripe apples ever, plus a little maraschino and marzipan. Mouth (neat): really sweet. Apple compote with some honey and a cinnamon/nutmeg spice combo. Feels a touch fizzy, like good cider. No problems. With water: water brings a soapiness onto the palate (saponification), a soapiness that takes its time before it would leave us alone. The good news is that after around ten minutes, we're left with more wonderful apples and rather notes of Turkish delights. Finish: long, on apples, marzipan and amaretti. And perhaps an ultra-tiny soapiness remaining in a corner (nope, haven't changed water). Pears in the aftertaste, which makes it even more Glenfiddichian. Comments: very good cuvée but be careful with water. 84 points - whiskyfun.com

    Notes from the producers... Nose: Intriguingly complex aroma with sweet heather honey and vanilla fudge combined with rich dark fruits. Taste: Silky smooth revealing layers of sherry oak, marzipan, cinnamon and ginger. Full bodied and bursting with flavour. Finish: Satisfyingly rich with lingering sweetness.

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    Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 01 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $159.99
    $124. 99
    Bottle
    $1499.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    The Perpetual series was unveiled in mid 2022 as travel retail exclusives. Four whiskies showing off the distillery’s signature solera vat maturation process make up the range. The vat system never runs dry. Instead, a portion is removed and the remainder is topped up with fresh liquid. This allows the latest batch to take on some characteristics of the older product. The process originated from Spanish sherry production, which Glenfiddich’s fifth Malt Master, David Stewart adapted in 1998 to produce their core 15-year-old single malt. According to him, it allows whisky from different casks to better integrate. Only half the whisky in Glenfiddich’s large solera vats is bottled at any one time.

    Of the four malts in the Perpetual Collection, the most easily approached is Vat 01, a combination of Bourbon and wine cask-matured whiskies that's sweet, soft, and smooth. Glenfiddich have honed the style over the decades and in this bottling, they've perfected the art of delivering a 40% abv whisky with character or depth. Admittedly, its predictable fusion of creamy, biscuity malt and subtle nashi pear fruitiness resembles many other Glenfiddichs, but when you just want a decent dram at a fair price, consistency and reliability is often a big part of the equation. Incentivise further with a one-litre format and you have an easy buying decision.

    Aged in Spanish sherry casks, Vat 02 presents a more complex and luscious character. Both have no age statements. The 15-year-old Vat 03 showcases Glenfiddich’s signature style. Matured in European oak sherry and Bourbon casks, it's silky and full-bodied delivering warm notes of spice, nutty marzipan, and dried figs. The final in the series is also deemed the most extravagant. Vat 04 is treated in oloroso sherry and Bourbon casks for 18 years for a deeper profile.

    Notes from the producers... Beautifully fragrant and floral. Summer blossom notes with hints of creamy vanilla toffee and subtle oakiness. A touch of zesty citrus in the background. TASTE: Very soft and mellow with a lovely balance of oak and the trademark Glenfiddich character. Layers of sweetness and spice with hints of freshly ground pepper. FINISH: Delicate and smooth.

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    Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $139.99
    $129. 99
    Bottle
    $1559.88 Dozen
    ABV: 44%

    Scotch whisky lovers will be familiar with the concept of octaves. As with the Quarter Cask approach, essentially, the smaller barrel volume creates more wood-whisky interaction, soaking up barrel characteristics faster. While the rapid wood influence adds more vanilla and spice, it requires careful management to avoid over-oaking, which is why octaves are typically employed to 'refine' whiskies, improving colour and adding complexity over months as a finishing, rather than a full term process. Glenglassaugh take the concept to an extreme! According to the producers, expect "A delicious combination of citrus and sweet notes". Non chill filtered and natural colour. 44% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... I’ve tried quite a few octaves by other makers that had been too new-oaky (vanilla, coconut, and basta), but let’s see… Colour: pale gold. Nose: it’s got a ‘crafty’ side for sure, with a youth that shines through (porridge, pears) and some half-sweet, half-spicy oak, very ‘American’. Vanilla, ginger cake, then rather butterscotch and crème brulée. The earthy/bready touches in the background work well, this is not a new-oak bomb. Mouth: a creamy mouth feel, it almost flows like honey, and a very pleasant acidic sweetness mingle with grassy oak. Citron liqueur and green tea, pepper, a few grassy eau-de-vie-ish notes (I’ve distilled spent lees on day, the result had a few similar notes), some bay leaves perhaps… The oak’s influence never stops growing and rather makes me think of European oak this time. But I doubt it’s European oak. Finish: rather long, really grassy and bitter, not in a bad way at all. Herb cordial. The vanilla is back in the aftertaste and comes with oranges or citrons. Comments: a good example of some young malt from some active oak. This time, balance has been found.  78 points - whiskyfun.com

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    Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $139.99
    $129. 99
    Bottle
    $1559.88 Dozen
    ABV: 44%

    Distilled from richly peated malted barley, this whisky has been matured in octave casks, made from staves of a used cask. Octaves are approximately 1/8th the size of a butt. The smaller cask allows for more interaction between the wood and the spirit, giving the whisky a great depth of flavour in a short period of time. Bottled at 44%, non chill filtered and natural colour. Expect a delicate, sweet peated stye.

    Other reviews... Colour: gold. Nose: could one use a mix of curry powder and antiseptic to smoke malted barley? Odd question, I know, but I do get quite some curry and quite some antiseptic, which is a combination that’s not as, well, as odd as you would think. Then we find more bandages and lemon juice, which is all fine. It’s actually got something slightly Laphroaiggy, not a bad benchmark for sure. Mouth: it’s not that I’m a peat head (I can hear you!), but the young distillate offered more resistance to the octaves, and the oak’s grassy/gingery side seems to be better integrated. Nice notes of lemongrass too, but the medicinal side has been lost on the palate. After all, Glenglassaugh’s not quite a coastal distillery, is it (I know some industry people are claiming that the whole of Scotland is coastal, which should imply that the place where you mature your whiskies does not matter. A long debate, not for here and not for now…) Finish: rather long, balanced, zesty/grassy and smoky. More ginger and pepper again in the aftertaste, that’s the octaves. Comments: a solid effort.  80 points - whiskyfun.com

    • Hot Item
    Glengyle Distillery Kilkerran 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2024 Bottling
    Campbeltown, SCOTLAND
    $149. 99
    Bottle
    $1799.88 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    The Kilkerran brand has been described as "Springbank's big middle finger to the SWA" for trying to screw them out of a regional designation. In 1998 the Scotch Whisky Association decided to cease referring to Campbeltown as a whisky region. Two distilleries (Springbank & Glen Scotia) simply weren't enough. Prompted to restore the Peninsula's reputation, Hedley Wright, the owner of Springbank envisioned Glengyle as a project to cement Campbeltown as a region proper, rather than just an extension of the Lowlands. Its whiskies are now on just about every malt maniacs short list.  Many who were lucky enough to be acquainted with Springbank's output a decade or so ago appreciate that Kilkerran is essentially a slightly less peated version of the same malt - for less dollars. The same distillery team run both operations. There is a slight difference in the production process but the upshot is a lightly peated West Highlander with fresh citrus notes and an oiliness on the palate, plus a little briney, coastal character. Because its profile clocks the range of flavours found in single malt Scotch, it is in many ways quintessential. The 12 year old is the perfect introduction. The 2024 edition was matured in 70% Bourbon and 30% Sherry casks and bottled at their standard strength of 46% without chill filtration. Experience has shown that the best time to buy it is at the start of each allocation cycle while the opening prices hold. Global demand for this distillery is already catching up with Springbank.

    Notes from the producers... Initially zesty with citrus notes of lemon cheesecake and an oiliness typical of a Campbeltown whisky. Peat smoke, leather bound books and peppery, spicy notes develop over time, along with sweet sticky toffee pudding. The peat smoke carries through to the finish in campfire embers, with sweet hints of pecan pie and butterscotch.

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    • 93
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    • Nick's Import
    • Packaging may vary
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    Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $169.99
    $119. 99
    Bottle
    $1439.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    "...having been steered on a slightly different course again it is just excellent... An expression that has evolved slowly, but quite beautifully." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2023

    The French Oak Reserve is generally considered one of the better values in the Glenlivet stable. Jim Murray certainly thinks so, giving this mid-range malt a strong recommendation - and he's not the only one. The distillery was one of Scotland's first to employ French oak for ageing whisky. Specifically, Limousin oak, sourced from France’s Dordogne region, the only French forest that is predominantly Quercus Robur. The toughness and coarse (open) grain of the species is a result of nutrient-deficient soils, restricting vertical growth to shorter, wider trunks. It places Limousin oak at one end of the scale in terms of looseness of grain. A consequence is that the release of flavours is aggressive and more oak tannin is extracted than from other oak types, hence, it's used almost exclusively for the maturation of spirits like Cognac rather than wine. In the case of Glenlivet, the whisky is selectively finished in Limousin oak so as not to overpower the fruitiness of the distillate. The wood's low density allows the spirit to cycle deeply in and out of the staves, adding a distinctive and pleasing spiciness that's different to the vanilla-heavy American oak. Bottled at 40%, Glenlivet's French Oak Reserve is not a heavy malt, but at the right price, you do get a terrific everyday drinker.

    Other reviews… Many years ago when this first came out it wasn't very good, to be honest. Then it was re-shaped, upped a gear and became a very enjoyable dram, indeed. Now having been steered on a slightly different course again it is just excellent... An expression that has evolved slowly, but quite beautifully. 93 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2023

    ...Antique amber color. This whisky maintains the elegance cherished by Glenlivet enthusiasts, but finishing the whisky in limousin oak produces a whisky of deeper wood notes, particularly wood spices (vanilla, sandalwood, perhaps even mint) and floral notes. It's rich, complex, and dry-especially on the finish. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com

    First whiffs pick up scents of fresh pineapple, cedar, and paraffin; later sniffings detect subtle notes of baked pear and sweet oak. Palate entry features a firm, moderately oily, and velvety texture; by midpalate, integrated flavors of ripe peach, pear drops and bran delight the taste buds. Finish is extended, semisweet and coconut-like. Replaces the 12-year-old French Oak Finish. Best Buy. 90-95 points - wineenthusiast.com

    ...The nose has notes of honey, oak, baked apples, ginger, dark chocolate, and hints of almond and hazelnut. The taste has cinnamon, vanilla, and baked apples, along with hints of pineapple juice and mango that add a fruity touch that lingers through the finish. (May, 2013) 90 points - whiskycast.com

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    Glenrothes Whisky Makers Cut Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $139.99
    $109. 99
    Bottle
    $1319.88 Dozen
    ABV: 48.8%

    "...unspoiled Sherry casks at work. An absolute must for Sherry lovers." - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020

    Glenrothes’ owners The Edrington Group are instigating some significant changes at the distillery. An upgrade is scheduled in the coming years and the marketing emphasis has already taken a dramatic shift towards 'ultra premium' bottlings. The ten and twelve-year-olds as well as the Whisky Maker's Cut are all discontinued, at least in Australia, with the range now starting at 18 years. However alternative reports suggest they’ve stopped making them altogether, which is supported by the fact that these products are now archived on the Glenrothes website and listed as sold out at major UK retailers. Whatever the case, knowing the strong following for this distillery, we’ve bought up big and negotiated Australia’s best deals. Opportunity knocks! 

    In and out of the country over the last few years and at variable pricing, the Whisky Maker's Cut was originally exclusive to an Australian Whisky Club where it sold for $125; elsewhere it's been selling for up to AU$140. We've secured an even better price again with a scoop buy on the last domestic stocks. Matured in first-fill sherry casks, bottled at the Master Distiller's preferred strength and rated 95 points by Jim Murray, this will attract drinkers more than collectors. The aroma wavers to and fro from sweeter notes of fresh prunes, dried apricots and candied orange peel to drier scents of leather handbag, cocoa and light prickles of alcohol. Early oak and baking spice flavours develop before dates and wisps of vanilla. Extra kick from the higher strength adds depth, especially with the spike of intensity at the finish. The final stages turn leaner and spicier, but the balance is good. In short, plenty for Sherry heads to enjoy - and at a very reasonable price. As the undisputed bargain of the Soleo collection, expect it to go fast. 48.8% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... "...a semi-simplistic of happy, dry oloroso dominating... the late sherry trifle, enriched with chocolate sauce is deeply attractive. Unspoiled Sherry casks at work." 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020

    ...The nose offers rich fruit—plums and sultanas—with milk chocolate and new leather. The palate is silky and luxurious, with medium-sweet sherry, vanilla, blackcurrants, and treacle. Dark berries and black pepper in the lengthy, mildly oaky finish. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Summer 2019)

    No age statement, but a considerably higher abv here. That higher alcohol level really makes the sherry pop on the nose, although I also get a bit of a smoky kick here that I didn’t find in any of the other whiskies. On the palate, that smoky element lingers, giving the body a peppery, beefy note that is slightly at odds with the citrus-driven sherry notes. The beefy, smoky elements continue to reign on the finish, alongside a somewhat green note.  - drinkhacker.com

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    • Double Gold - World Spirits Competition 2016
    • 96
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    Grand Marnier Cuvee du Centenaire Liqueur (700ml)
    FRANCE
    $199. 99
    Bottle
    $2399.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    Composed of over 80% cognac aged between 12-30 years, the price / quality ratio is exceptional. Easily one of the world's great liqueurs.

    A step up from Grand Marnier's entry level bottling is the harder to find 'Cuvee du Centenaire'. First released in 1927 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the company, it employs cognac reserves aged between 12-30 years (primarily from Grande Champagne, the remainder from Petite Champagne). What makes the price all the more remarkable is that 82% of the liquid is actually cognac, combined with the distilled essence of Seville oranges. The end result is married for around two years in large oak vats. From the very first pour, the bouquet impresses with its oh-so-fresh orange peel lift that delights the olfactory sense. Subsequent inspection locates the cognac, seamlessly integrated into the citrus, identifiable as hints dried fig and sweet cigar box, adding depth and complexity; Further exposure seems to melt the entirety into a stunning orange marmalade bliss, although the interchange between fresh peel and sweeter, heavier notes never really ends. Now orange cake, now hints of jaffa… Silky on entry, developing into a concentrated mid palate burst that's initially sweet, tempered by tingling baking spices and peel, the final stages are luxurious, long and perfectly poised with candied peel and gentle spirit warmth. Classic and deeply satisfying, it'd be a shame to mix something this refined, yet it has been known to make its way into mind-blowing ultra premium margaritas. 40% alc./Vol. 237 grams of sugar / litre.

    Other reviews... Amber. Subtle orange rind nose. A smooth, bright entry leads to a medium-to full-bodied palate with candied orange and brown spice notes followed by a lush wave of warming alcohol. Subtly complex, extremely refined, and highly polished. 40% Alc./Vol.
    International Review of Spirits Award: Platinum Medal, 97 points (Superlative) - tastings.com

    The palate is balanced between the citric acid, alcohol, Cognac and wood, with the Cognac always prevailing. Concludes with finesse, a sweet-sour presence, and an incredibly lush texture. 96-100 points - wineenthusiast.com

    Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition 2016

    5+ Stars - diffordsguide.com

    "On the nose, juicy and floral orange meld with rich hints of cognac. On the palate, honeyed and candied orange flavors are lifted and given depth thanks to the beautifully blended and aged base. It's balanced and full all the way through, leaving lingering flavors, both bright and rich. While this could be used in a cocktail, it’s more suited for sipping on its own to be savored." 93 points - distiller.com

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    2021 Greenock Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz
    Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $29. 99
    Bottle
    $359.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Greenock Creek was thrust onto the world stage in the mid to late 1990’s by the then world’s most powerful wine critic Robert Parker who lavished lusty praise on the wines including eight 100 point scores.
    From a vintage that’s considered as one of the best in living memory in the Barossa, this is the estate’s entry level Shiraz. A portion of the wine was fermented and matured in new French oak hogsheads (10%), with the balance in a selection of seasoned French and American oak hogsheads for a period of 18 months.

    Delivers a level of concentration and power that belies it’s entry level price tag.

    Dense pitch black core with a very deep dark red black hue. The seductive nose features pronounced aromatics of liquorice, dark plum and blackberry which are intertwined with black cherry, subtle smoked vanillin oak, mocha and fennel notes. Rich, exuberant and lavishly textured, the full bodied the palate is flush with opulent black cherry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Vanillin oak, spicy fennel and subtle peppered earth elements linger underneath. Concentrated and powerful it has velvet smooth tannins and a long plush finish.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

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    2024 Greywacke Pinot Gris
    Marlborough, NEW ZEALAND
    $36. 99
    Bottle
    $443.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Rich, luscious and viscous with a long, exotic off dry finish.

    Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Ripe pear, Jonathan apple and honeysuckle aromas flood the nostrils followed by hints of musk, Turkish delight and ginger. Rich, luscious pear, red apple and honeysuckle flavours carry a viscous feel across the palate. Subtle musk, Turkish delight and spice elements lie underneath. Off dry it has a lick of brisk acidity to freshen things up. Finishes long, exotic and juicy.
    Drink over the next 2-3 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews.....
    A flinty number with struck stone at the forefront. Poire William pear, grappa and pickled ginger. There is character and a strong sense of palate value here, with swirls of candied lemon, pomelo and pith. Some earthy oyster mushroom and white pepper. Plenty to ponder on. Some tactile skin tension adds further interest. A great wine for Thai and herby, salty dishes. Drink by 2030.
    93 points
    Shanteh Wale - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

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    2024 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc
    Marlborough, NEW ZEALAND
    $26. 99
    Bottle
    $323.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Greywacke is the Marlborough label of former Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd, where he presided over that company’s first 25 vintages establishing the reputation that it has today. The name Greywacke was adopted by Kevin and his wife Kimberley for their first Marlborough vineyard in Rapaura, named in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the soils of the vineyard. Kevin registered the name back in 1992 with the vague notion that he might one day want to use it on a wine label of his own.
    Fruit was sourced from various prime vineyard sites in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains with a portion of the juice fermented in old oak barrels.

    Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Pungent nose with aromas of passionfruit, herbaceous gooseberry and lime leaping out of the glass. Subtle green apple, stony mineral and grassy notes ensue. Scrumptious passionfruit, lime and green apple fruits burst across the palate with terrific intensity. Complimenting delicate herbaceous gooseberry, subtle grassy and flinty mineral elements also chime in. Displaying outstanding power and textural volume it has crisp acidity and a long, zesty finish.
    Drink over the next 1-2 years.
    Alc. 13.5

    Other Reviews....
    A stroll through an island rainforest is the best way to describe this wine. A canopy of elderflower blooms, green apple, and mangosteen flesh opens the experience, while the variety’s flourishing, leafy qualities sit at its heart in the most enticing way. Notes of cut lime, papaya skin and aloe gel weave through. The palate builds with each sip – a touch of self-raising flour mealiness, a hint of lemon-butter creaminess, all carried in an overall dry style that both quenches and intrigues. Its natural arch of acidity drives the wine forward, underpinned by a low hum of power and a full force of flavour. Best enjoyed in a wide glass, to capture its full effect. Drink by 2029.
    96 points
    Shanteh Wale - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

    The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc was hand delivered to me in Fremantle by winemaker Richelle Tyney from Greywacke, all the way from Marlborough, New Zealand—roughly 5,200 kilometers between us. The wine leads with passion fruit and white pineapple, green apple, beeswax and brine. The wine is salty, fine and sedate—the characters are all in balance with each other. I love this wine from this small producer. It is intense and concentrated, shaped by savory phenolics and loaded with crunchy New Zealand acidity. This speaks of the place in a clear, unfettered voice, and it's brilliant for that. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2030.
    93 points
    Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

    This white’s vibrant, aromatic flavors of lemon blossoms, ripe peach, kumquat and lime sherbet show focus and intensity on a smooth, sleek body. Touches of candied ginger and green tea linger on the fresh finish. Drink now.
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

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    2022 Guigal Cotes du Rhone
    Cotes du Rhone, Southern Rhone, FRANCE
    $26. 99
    Bottle
    $323.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    A bold and juicy Cotes du Rhone that has a chewy mouth feel.

    With an average annual production of around 4 million bottles, this wine is a model of consistency year in year out and one of Cotes du Rhone’s best buys. The 2022 vintage is a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre sourced from vines with an average age of 35 years. Maturation takes place in oak casks for a period of 18 months.
    Dense black dark red colour with a deep dark red hue. Black raspberry and liquorice scents waft through the nostrils followed by some ripe black cherry, dried herb, earthy incense and pepper notes. Rich, concentrated and lush, the weighty palate is swamped with juicy black raspberry, black cherry and liquorice fruits. A ripe chewy tannin structure imparts a firm, robust mouth feel. Infusions of provincial herbs, scorched earth and pepper the undercard. Long opulently fruited finish.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc. 15%

    Other Reviews….
    The Cotes Du Rhone is smoking good, offering up blackberries, pepper, and garrigue in a round, supple, medium to full-bodied style. Based on 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre, partially aged in oak foudres, this impressive effort shows remarkable quality for the appellation.
    90-92 points
    JebDunnuck.com

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    2025 Hahndorf Hill Pinot Grigio
    Adelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $23. 99
    Bottle
    $287.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Intense and shapely yet highly refreshing, this a super moreish Pinot Grigio.

    Made from hand-harvested grapes that are sourced from three different and varying sites in the Adelaide Hills. Brilliant water like core with a faint greenish tinge around the edges. Enticing pear and red apple aromas jump from the glass followed by some lime, wet stone and subtle fresh herb notes. The moreish palate delivers a cascade of pear, red apple and lime fruits over a back drop of delicate quince, fresh herb and stony mineral elements. Possessing terrific intensity and shapely feel it has crisp acidity and a long refreshing finish. Trophy winner at the Royal Queensland Wine Show 2025 for Best Pinot Grigio.
    Drink over the next 1-2 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

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    • 94
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    2025 Henschke Peggy’s Hill Riesling
    Eden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    Reduced from $27.99
    $22. 99
    Bottle
    $275.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)
    ABV: 11.7%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Racy and intensely flavoured with a long scrumptious, mineral infused finish.

    This Riesling takes its name from a local landmark, Peggy’s Hill, located at the top of the range between the villages of Eden Valley and Keyneton. It is produced from a selection of longstanding Eden Valley Riesling growers, whose vines range from 10 to 70 years of age, growing in low-vigour, ancient Cambrian soils at around 500m altitude.
    Brilliant water like colour with a faint greenish tinge around the edges. Jumping out of the glass are intense lime and citrus aromas which are trailed by some orange rind, distinct talc and chalky mineral notes. Mouth watering lime and lemon fruits are delivered with impressive concentration and zest over an orange rind, chalky talc and steely mineral back drop. Racy feel with crisp acidity and a long scrumptious, mineral infused finish.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 11.7%

    Other Reviews......
    Pale in the glass with just a youthful flash of green and aromas of freshly squeezed lime, Bickford's lime cordial and hints of Christmas lilies, crushed stone, green apple, citrus blossom, lemongrass and makrut lime. Sleek in its travel with a crystalline mineral driveline; all tension and detail as it shoots across the palate. Velocity and precision writ large. Such great, refreshing drinking, with a slatey, dry finish. Drink by 2040.
    94 points
    Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

    Taking it’s name from a local Eden Valley landmark  between the villages of Eden Valley (yes, there’s a small township as well as the regional appellation) and Keyneton, where the Henschke family estate is based; sourced from several of the district’s preferred grower vineyards at around the 500m altitude mark. Deeply aromatic mostly with lime notes – zest, leaf and Bickford’s cordial, moving from nose to mouth with ease, aromas to generous flavours, and salivating citrus pith texture to energise the palate. Allowed time in the bottle, tasted with several months relaxation since bottling, this has found a great place to allow purity and depth of flavour to rise up. A joy to drink. 
    95 points
    Tony Love - WinePilot.com

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    2022 Henschke Keyneton Euphonium - Last Stocks
    Barossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $56. 99
    Bottle
    $683.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Rich and velvety with silky smooth tannins and a long plush finish.

    Keyneton Euphonium is composed of Shiraz sourced from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from selected vineyards in both regions. The 2022 vintage is made up of 59% Shiraz, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot matured in a mixture of 20% new French oak hogsheads and 80% seasoned French and American oak hogsheads for a period of 20 months.

    Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting from the glass are seductive aromas of dark plum, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and liquorice which are interwoven with earthy fennel, vanillin cedar and spice notes. Rich and velvety the palate has an opulent flow of dark plum, liquorice, blackcurrant and dark chocolate fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle earthy tobacco and delicate spicy mocha elements also lean into the flavour profile. Silky smooth tannins finishing long, plush and sumptuous.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Deeply perfumed and spicy, with aromas of blackcurrants, roasted coffee beans, cedar, blood plums, cured meat and cassis. The palate is seamlessly integrated, with a velvety texture, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity that leads into a supple yet structured finish with lingering flavors of bitter chocolate, mulberries, cigar box and paprika. Made from a blend of 59% shiraz, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% merlot. So much polish and class. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
    96 Points
    JamesSuckling.com

    A veritable fruit salad of classic red varieties here with Shiraz dominant (59%), supported by Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Merlot (2%). The fruit comes from the Barossa Valley (40%) and Eden Valley (60%). Maturation was for twenty months in a combination of French and American hogsheads, with 20% of the French oak new. A vibrant dark maroon hue, the nose exhibits notes of coffee beans, mocha, kirsch, tobacco leaves, bergamot, cassis, cold tea and licorice. This is elegant and yet with intensity. Exciting stuff. Balanced, focused, fresh and energetic, there are silky tannins and momentous length. This will drink beautifully for at least fifteen years. As good a Euphonium as I can recall. Drink 2025-2040.
    96 Points
    Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com

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    2019 Heraclio Alfaro Crianza
    Rioja, SPAIN
    $21. 99
    Bottle
    $263.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2023-2026)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Compañía de Vinos Heraclio Alfaro is located just a few kilometres away from the village of Alfaro in the east of La Rioja Both the winery and its first wine are named after Heraclio Alfaro Fournier, a Spanish aviation pioneer who crossed borders and transcended barriers as both a pilot and a designer of airplanes and engines. In 1914, he was one of the youngest people in the world to earn the official pilot’s title, and he made and flew the Alfaro I, the first aircraft made entirely in Spain.
    This wine is a blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuela fermented in stainless steel tanks before ageing in French oak barrels for 12 months. Fruit is sourced from 2 vineyards located in the Rioja Oriental (East), a warmer and drier part of Rioja. The Garnacha component coming from very old, elevated vineyards located at 700m.
    Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Unfurling from the glass are ripe black cherry and liquorice aromas which are complimented by toasty oak, earthy leather and spice notes. Rich black cherry, liquorice and black raspberry fruits overlay a toasty oak, earth and spicy leather back drop. Plush and sensuous it has ripe chewy tannins and a long polished yet touch rustic finish.
    Drink over the next 2-3 years.
    Alc. 14%

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    • Nick's Import
    Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Plus Bonus Cask Strength 50ml Miniature
    Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    ABV: 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 finish93 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

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    • Reduced
    Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $250.00
    $149. 99
    Bottle
    $1799.88 Dozen
    ABV: 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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    2024 Hoddles Creek Estate Pinot Noir
    Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $23. 99
    Bottle
    $287.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)
    ABV: 13.2%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Fresh, juicy and supplely textured, this is a delicious Yarra Valley Pinot Noir that delivers great value.

    Winemaker Franco d’Anna regularly fashions some of the best value Pinot Noir’s and Chardonnay’s out of the Yarra Valley and the 2024 releases are no exception.
    Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a vibrant red hue. Perfumed like aromas of violet, wild cherry, strawberry and anise stream out of the glass with wonderful intensity. Some bramble, forest floor and spicy dried herb notes ensue. Delicious wild cherry, strawberry and anise flavours are supple yet simultaneously fresh in their feel across the palate. Supplementing the fruit are infusion of fresh herbs, delicate bramble, forest floor and spice. Polished tannins and lively acidity with a long, energetically juicy finish.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 13.2%

    Other Reviews….
    A very light, bright crimson red. Pure fruited, with aromas of freshly crushed raspberries, summer flowers and a touch of spice. Just as good on the light- to medium-bodied, brightly fruited and silkily structured palate. A wine, as always, to buy by the case and enjoy over the next three to four years! Drink by 2029.
    95 points
    Philip Rich - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

    Red fruit, cherry, a little earthy, with some cinnamon oak showing, and sarsaparilla. It’s a more fruity and bouncy expression of Hoddles Pinot, some grainy chew to tannin, a bit of sap and orange rind, something of a ferrous edge, with a stiff tannic finish of good length. Needs a bit of time to come around. It’s maybe a little more robust and fruity than is usual for this wine, though it’s still good. Drink 2026-2034.
    92+ Points
    Gary Walsh – The Wine Front

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    2024 Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay
    Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $23. 99
    Bottle
    $287.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)
    ABV: 13.2%
    Closure: Stelvin

    An energetic, mid weighted Chardonnay that’s amply fleshed and concentrated.

    Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Elevated aromas of pear and nectarine mix with dried honey, biscuity oak, citrus and spicy nougat notes. Concentrated, fleshy and energetic, pear and nectarine fruits are layered across the mid weighted palate. Biscuity nougat, dried honey and spicy cashew elements the support act. Brisk acidity imparts a fresh, flinty feel onto the long and otherwise generously textured finish.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc. 13.2%

    Other Reviews….
    On the sample labels attached to the bottles of Pinot and Chardonnay, Franco talks about the ‘envelope’ of the wine. I’m not really sure what that means. Maybe he’s getting a lot of fan mail? Franco thinks this is the best Chardonnay since the 2021.
    Juicy white fruit, grapefruit, aniseed, a little struck match, almond paste, cinnamon and clove spice. It’s packed with flavour, white nectarine and nutty spicy characters, a flinty grip to texture, quite some intensity and power here, and in some respects it seems more Beechworth than Yarra, or so I think. Pear and citrus, lime rind, with excellent length of flavour. It’s elemental as at now, and a little raw, though I reckon it will deliver with a couple of years in bottle. It’s a cracking release. Drink 2026-2035+
    95 Points
    Gary Walsh – The Wine Front

    Aromas of stone fruits, citrus peel, crushed stones, flint and grapefruit. The palate is textural, with slight phenolic grip supported by a fine line of acidity and underlying power and tension. Shows great purity and mineral drive, with impressive generosity for the price. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
    94 points
    JamesSuckling.com

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    2024 Home Hill Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir
    Tasmania, AUSTRALIA
    $110. 00
    Bottle
    $1320.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)
    ABV: 14.2%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Rich, expansive and powerful yet light on it’s feet with an exquisitely silky flow.

    This Pinot has quickly become one of Tasmania’s most sought after wines with a string of accolades being awarded to past vintages including the Jimmy Watson Trophy for the 2014. The fruit for Kelly’s Reserve is sourced from the middle 12 rows of the vineyard which have had their trellising system modified. The aim is to reduce the yields as much as possible and in turn produce fruit with greater concentration. Each year the Kelly’s Reserve is made from a blend of only the top barrels from the vintage.

    Matured for 10 months in French oak (38% new). Red to dark red in colour with black shaded edges and a vibrant red hue. Showing a perfumed like intensity, the nose is engulfed with violet, red to dark cherry, wild strawberry and anise aromas. Spicy cedar, forest floor and fresh herb notes lend further sophistication. Rich, expansive and powerful yet light on it’s feet, the palate is graced with moreish ripe red to dark cherry, strawberry and red plum fruits. Exquisitely silky flow with notions of anise, spicy cedar, and infusions of forest floor layered across the back half. Beautifully balanced with ample freshness and a seamlessly integrated, refined tannin structure. Supple and generous it finishes supremely long and wonderfully finessed.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 14.2%

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    • Nick's Import
    2011 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Benriach 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $159. 99
    Bottle
    $1919.88 Dozen
    ABV: 57.6%

    Distilled at Benriach in 2011, then matured for over a decade in a single bourbon cask. Slightly green or citric on the nose entry, building with orange flour cake, then richer flavours of digestif biscuits and honey in later passes. Benriach’s naturally fruity, malty spirit is caressed by a gentle oak sweetness in a full bodied, oily profile that's less spicy, rounder and juicier as the mouth adjusts. 263 bottles at 57.6% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

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    • Nick's Import
    2008 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Glen Moray 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $179. 99
    Bottle
    $2159.88 Dozen
    ABV: 54.1%

    Distinct from the standard distillery releases, Macduff have bottled an intense yet accessible Glen Moray, lightly summer-fruited with soft touches of ripe apricot and peach, hints of honey and shredded coconut wrapped up in crisp, Bourbon-infused oak. The outturn was 220 bottles at 54.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

    • 92
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    • Nick's Import
    2012 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Glencadam 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $179. 99
    Bottle
    $2159.88 Dozen
    ABV: 65.9%

    Weetbix and meusli bar on the nose. On the palate, a whopping fruity malt delivery arrives with an impressive wave of spices - not aggressive, more heartwarming and amicable. A one trick pony that's all about a rollercoaster mouthfeel and incredible weight. 209 bottles from a bourbon cask. 65.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

    • 93
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    • Nick's Import
    2012 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Macduff 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $159. 99
    Bottle
    $1919.88 Dozen
    ABV: 63.8%

    Robust aromas of cream sponge cake come with a little red berry (?), or is it poached orchard fruitiness? Full-bodied yet remarkably balanced for the ABV, run through with cream tea biscuits and rich malt flavours, the intense mid palate suggesting poached pears then grapefruit-like acidity, pepper heat spiking the finish. Takes water well, softening the sharp edges while retaining body. Very simple but very honest. We like the "au naturel" style. You simply could not do much better for a 10-year-old Macduff than this. 230 bottles from a bourbon cask at 63.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    2010 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Aultmore 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
    $129. 99
    Bottle
    $1559.88 Dozen
    ABV: 57.3%

    This is the only bottling from the House of Macduff that came with an alternative presentation - a cardboard outer rather than a canister, so it appears to have been bottled from an earlier outturn. No tasting sample was received, but like the rest of the shipment, it aims to capture the distillery character (floral and honeyed), enhanced rather than obscured by vanilla sweetness from its stint in an x-Bourbon cask. 216 bottles produced at 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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    2022 Hunter-Gatherer Heathcote Shiraz
    Heathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $24. 99
    Bottle
    $299.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Stelvin

    Based in the Macedon ranges, winemaker, Brian Martin also sources exceptional parcels of fruit from top growers in nearby Heathcote. This Shiraz comes from the Chinamen's Bend vineyard in Tooborac with aging taking place in a mix of new and seasoned French oak for a period of 18 months.

    An opulently fruited yet muscular Heathcote Shiraz that delivers great value.

    Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Ripe black cherry and liquorice aromas rise through the olfactory senses followed by flashes of blueberry, vanillin cedar and peppered earth notes. Full in body the palate is awash with succulent black cherry, liquorice and blackberry fruit with spicy vanillin cedar, blueberry and peppered earth elements in the background. Boasting superb intensity, depth and power, a sturdy tannin structure imparts a robust feel onto the long, fresh and deeply fruited finish.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14%

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    2021 Isole e Olena Cepparello
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 8 - 10 Years (2033-2035)
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Stelvin

    An exceptionally powerful Sangiovese with energetic red fruit sculptured by chiselled tannins and lively acidity.

    In the 1950s, the father of current winemaker Paolo de Marchi purchased the adjoining hamlets of Isole and Olena and their estates in the Tuscan commune of Barberino Val d'Elsa. Paolo entered the business in 1976 and the quality of the estate’s wines improved rapidly after decades of sharecropping. Paolo de Marchi is one of the region's kings of the Sangiovese grape and at a time when Chianti was a blended wine it was, he that stepped out to produce wines that were 100% Sangiovese. Cepparello is the true embodiment of a ‘Super Tuscan’ wine and one of Italy's most iconic wines.

    Deep dark red black in colour with a dark red hue. The aromatically gorgeous nose is blessed with a kaleidoscope of red to dark currant, dark cherry, red liquorice and violet scents. Dried herb, subtle tobacco, earth and spice notes lend further nuance. Delicious, energetic red to dark cherry, red currant and red liquorice fruits are sculptured by chiselled tannins and lively acidity. Exceptionally powerful, it has a tense, muscular feel with the back half complexed by notions of dried herbs, tobacco, earth and spice. Finishes fresh and slightly grippy with outstanding length.
    Cellar 8-10 years.
    Alc. 15%

    Other Reviews……
    Intense and floral wine, full of restrained aromas, such as potpourri, together with vibrant red cherries, licorice, bergamot and lightly balsamic depth. The firm tannins and full body provide a velvety and extracted texture. Powerful wine, yet tight-knit and super polished. Refreshing with a tense, fruity finish. Super classic. Drink or hold.
    99 points
    James Suckling

    One of Tuscany's flagship wines, the Isole e Olena 2021 Cepparello immediately delivers ripe fruit flavors that are firm, even crunchy, and that bodes well for the future evolution of this classic vintage. The wine is packed with tart fruit flavors followed by balanced acidity. Compared to past vintages that are more extracted and dense, this edition is delightfully bright and transparent. I appreciation the age-worthy direction Cepparello is taking. Drink 2025-2048.
    97 points
    Monica Larner – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

    Plum, cherry and pomegranate fruit is framed by toasty oak and mineral flavors in this lively and succulent red, which offers plenty of energy, with elements of tar and oak on the persistent finish. Shows fine balance, with the dense tannins leaving room for the fruit in the end. Needs time. Sangiovese. Best from 2027 through 2043.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2023 Izway Bruce Shiraz
    Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
    $49. 99
    Bottle
    $599.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)
    ABV: 14.9%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    The Bruce was the first wine Izway produced and since it’s inception in 2003 it has always been unashamedly Barossan with rich fruit, power, depth, texture and structure all hallmarks of this outstanding wine. Fruit was sourced from four different Barossa Valley vineyards located in the sub districts of Koonunga Hill, Ebenezer, Molculta and Moppa with vines varying in age between 31 to 131 years old.

    An absolute showstopper that takes hedonism to a whole new level.

    Magnificent glass staining colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with an equally deep dark red black hue. Commanding aromas of dark plum, liquorice, blackberry and fennel are delivered with terrific potency, notions of smoky vanillin cedar, earth and peppered dried herbs leaning in for further complexity. Rich, incredibly dense and voluptuous, every corner of the mouth is engulfed by a super concentrate of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits which are infused with smoky fennel elements. Dark chocolate, dried herb and peppered earth characters unfold across the expansive back half. Despite it’s overwhelming opulence, it shows ample focus and possesses silky smooth yet structured tannins. Enormously powerful and explosive, it finishes with prodigious length.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 14.9%

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    • Nick's Import
    Janneau Napoleon Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $89. 99
    Bottle
    $1079.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    A blend of Ugni Blanc, Bacco and Folle Blanche eaux de vie from Bas Armagnac and Tenarèze wines, aged mostly in Limousin oak casks. A wonderful bouquet features lifted aromas of sweet oak and rich, weighty scents of marzipan, cherry tobacco, raisin bread and new leather. There’s classic Armagnac concentration, yet it's contemporary and accessible - soft, round and supple, conjuring flavours of prune, cocoa and honey - sweet, but not overly so - and poised to finish dry with late suggestions of almonds, leather and dates. The length is good. The balance is impeccable. The price is a no-brainer. 40% Alc./Vol.

    More about this house...Janneau was founded in 1851 by Pierre Etienne Janneau, then passed through four generations until Cognac giant, Martell, purchased the family property in the early 1970s. Significant investments in new equipment expanded the maison's capacity making it one of the most important production plants and storage facilities in the region. In 1993, the Giovinettis bought Janneau with the intention of returning the house to its original status as a family-run business. Janneau continues to be distinguished from other producers in their use of two types of distillation: both continuous and double.

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1996 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1964 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $550. 00
    Bottle
    $6600.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    1964 is a very rare year - indeed, one of the rarest of the decade with stocks now extremely low.

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1994 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    1994 was considered a solid year in Armagnac. Production was significant so there's a lot of choice and styles vary depending on the houses. The brandies released to date are described as exuberant and very expressive.

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1974 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $399. 00
    Bottle
    $4788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    Described as a vintage of variety, the '74s recently released show impressive maturity with mellow perfumes. Generally considered great quality and value for money. 

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1986 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    1973 Janneau Vintage Collection Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $399. 00
    Bottle
    $4788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 43%

    In a world of wood-aged spirits distilled from raw materials throughout the year, Armagnac stands out as a product of viticulture, subject to annual growth cycles and variations inherent to 'vintages'. Blending multiple harvests to create a consistent house style remains common, however vintage-dated Armagnacs are another thing - distilled from a single harvest, grapes are moulded by the year’s climatic conditions, partly determining outturn and quality. Vines are cultivated to obtain acidic wines, low in alcohol, resulting in fruity and floral eaux-de-vie. Most vintages are potentially marketable, however it's not a standard practise. Eaux-de-vie from a single year requires particular care and attention. Distillation and ageing must be adapted to capture the individual character of the distillate, and the Cellar Master must decide on the period it should spend in new oak. The minimum is ten years (unlike blends), but if the Armagnac is deemed capable of extended ageing, it might mean 20, 50 or even 100 years in barrel. Thus, with experience and patience, these bottlings can enter the realm of top-tier spirits.

    Connoisseurs love Vintage Armagnacs because they have the ability to surprise - or at the very least - deliver more distinctive profiles than a mass blended brandy. Producers classify their diversity into five primary tastes – spices, fruits, bakery, floral, and green – with three different weights, ranging from “fine, light, and easy to drink” to “classic, rich, and well-balanced,” up to the "more powerful and expressive" vintages.

    Because they're prominently labelled with the year of production, these gems have become hugely popular as gifts whereby birthdays and anniversaries can be marked by a singular bottle - a way to turn back the clock via a liquid time capsule, rekindle memories and reflect. If you're lucky enough to secure a Vintage Armagnac but aren't ready to open it, store it upright so the alcohol doesn't attack the cork, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Once opened, there's no hurry to finish it. These spirits don't oxidise quickly like a wine or Vintage Port, but they are best consumed within a few years, as recommended by the BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac).

    • Hot Item
    • Nick's Import
    Janneau 5 Year Old Grand Armagnac (700ml)
    Armagnac, FRANCE
    $79. 99
    Bottle
    $959.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%

    This now-discontinued youngster should prove Armagnac doesn't require long ageing to be approachable. Offering a lighter body with distinct fruity flavours, vanilla notes, and a smooth, woody finish, use it as a high-end substitute for your everyday brandy - in long drinks, on the rocks, or as a base for cocktails. 40% Alc./Vol.

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Australia's most curated online wine & spirits list, regularly updated...

It's not uncommon for long-time customers to comment, "I've never had a bad wine from Nicks" . Part of the reason is that we taste and rate all the wines before you do. In fact, we offer an independent review for most of the wines on this website. Think of the "What's Hot" page as a shortlist - not only of the most highly rated wines from every category and price point - but also many of the best value spirits and liqueurs in Australia. Our selections include the most exciting wine growing regions around Australia as well as imports from around the world. Not sure what to buy? Give us a call on 1800 069 295. Let us know what you've enjoyed in the past and one of our knowledgeable staff will guide you in your choice. Unlike many retailers, we let you mix it up. Order online in straight dozens or make every bottle different to enjoy a new flavour each day. When you order more than $200 worth, get it delivered free to most areas of Australia.