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  • Reduced

  Port Askaig 100 Proof Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Islay, SCOTLAND

  Reduced from $150.00

  $139. 99

  Bottle

  $1679.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 57.1%

  Jim Murray's 2017 Runner up for Best No Age Statement Whisky of the year (Multiple casks). 96.5 points.

  We first tasted whiskies under the Port Askaig label several years ago and found them to be immensely appealing. These fruity-smokey styles are sourced from an "unknown Islay distillery" (word is that it's Caol Ila) and bottled by Specialty Drinks Ltd., also responsible for the "Elements of Islay" range. Port Askaig's 100 proof edition was launched in 2015 and has now been discontinued globally. "100° Proof" equates to 57.1% in the traditional system of alcohol measurement, different to the 100 proof you're more likely to see on American whiskeys.

  As there's no distillery called Port Askaig, this dram has been named after the ancient ferry port and fishing harbour situated on the east coast of Islay. The whisky was matured in refill ex-bourbon casks and bottled without an age statement, though the youngest component is reported to be seven years old. The rest will be considerably older. The nose offers a classic Islay sniff: a sultry amalgam of smoke-infused brine and pepper combined with baked citrus and latent creamy vanillas. What sets this apart is the oily, mouth coating delivery, the peat perfectly tuned with the thick malt, then viscous and saline to finish, the oils oozing sooty peat with hints of cured meats and late jaffa in the aftertaste. Near 60% but you'd never know it. Of all the Port Askaigs we've tasted since, this remains the pick of the bunch and comes with the highest recommendation. Buy one to drink and another to collect. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Other reviews... what perfect oak must have been deployed here. No off notes or buzz. Just the insistent and steadying hand of vanilla / butterscotch to add a gentle counter to the spice and smoke. ; just exemplary, high quality Islay; a must experience malt. If you find a more beautifully paced, weighted and elegant Islay this year, I'd really like to hear about it." 96.5 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018

  Very enjoyable, and definitely great value for money. The finish falls off a little, and it's not overly complex, but if you dig these flavours (like I do), it's definitely a winner! Pure, unadulterated Caol Ila, but nicely amplified and concentrated over the regular official bottlings. Lovely. I must admit I sometimes shy away from independent and/or mystery bottlings that I'm not familiar with, but there's no reason to do so in this case. These guys clearly know what they're doing. If you're a fan of Caol Ila but you wish they'd turn up the volume, or you've had your fill of the standard bottlings, this is a sure-fire way to satisfy that desire.
  3.5 Stars - peatedperfection.blogspot.com.au

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  • 94

  • Reduced

  Redbreast 18 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)

  County Cork, IRELAND

  Reduced from $350.00

  $299. 00

  Bottle

  $3588.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 46%

  "...a silky and dessert-filled experience that is unlike any other Redbreast I’ve encountered." - drinkhacker.com

  Bridging the gap between the distillery's older and younger offerings, Redbreast 18 Year Old is a novel and welcome addition to the range. While ex-bourbon casks are included, this new expression relies mostly on first-fill oloroso casks, also sporting whiskeys aged in barrels that previously held cream sherry - a first for the brand. Says Master Blender, Ian McCabe, "By incorporating cream sherry casks sourced from the Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage, we’ve created a whiskey that boasts a rich profile of dark chocolate, blackcurrants and hazelnuts.” It contrasts against its nearest neighbour, the 15-year-old, which he describes as more savoury and herbaceous. Also notable is the addition of liquid aged in Ruby Port, a component that was until now used exclusively in the top-of-the-line 27-year-old and the even rarer Dream Cask. By all reports, Redbreast 18 year old is a cracker that ups the richness on others in the line up, making for a superb dessert whiskey. 46% Alc./Vol.

  Other reviews... The nose is luxuriously appealing, with milk chocolate, maraschino cherry, bramble, black currant, Nutella, baked citrus, apricot, mango, oak spices, toasted nuts, and cinnamon bark. Smooth and polished on the palate, the complex cask regime serves up flavors of milk chocolate, licorice, black grape, sultana, date, ginger root, currants, and clove. The finish serves up dried fruit and licorice, with hints of leather and coffee bean. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com

  ...The nose is rich and expressive and clearly inspired by those newer cask types. Top notes of strawberry shortcake, sugared almonds, and black cherry are airy but still decadent, acquiring an almost creamy texture with time in the glass. The aroma is elevated further by undertones of vanilla bean and crème brulee with fresh berries. A hint of peppery pot still spice adds some energy to an otherwise silky and dessert-filled experience that is unlike any other Redbreast I’ve encountered. The palate follows a similar theme, lush and syrupy initially with cherry cordial and blackberry jam, veering almost too far into the dessert dram lane. Things course correct however on the midpalate with more traditional Redbreast notes of white pepper, breakfast cereal, banana pudding, and candy apple before finding remarkable harmony on a long, warm finish accented with ripe red berries, vanilla cream, and candied ginger. Truly impressive. Without having sampled the 27-year-old, I have to say this is my favorite Redbreast to date. - drinkhacker.com

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• • 95
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  2020 Reillys R Shiraz

  Clare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA

  $16. 99

  Bottle

  $203.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)

  ABV: 15.5%

  Closure: Stelvin

  A long time customer favourite, Reillys R Shiraz never fails to over deliver. Produced from a blend of the best fruit off the 18 year old St Clare vineyard and a parcel from the 50 year old dry grown Home Block vineyard (around 20%) to provide the wine with additional depth and density. All parcels of fruit are basket pressed, then the wine spends 18 months in French oak barrels maturing.

  If you like them big, bold and dense, this delivers monstrous value for the price.

  Magnificent density of colour featuring a super saturated inky black heart and a near equally deep dark red black hue. Potent black cherry liqueur, liquorice and blackberry aromas completely engulf the nostrils. Some toasty vanillin oak, fennel and peppered earth notes ensue. About as rich and dense as a wine can get, an explosion of voluptuous black fruits completely douse every corner of the palate. Liqueur like in it’s texture with a firm, chewy tannin structure, notions of vanillin oak, scorched earth and peppered fennel lie underneath. The long, bold and decadent finish carrying a slightly robust feel. Hits a home run bargain.
  Drink over the next 3-4 years.
  Alc. 15.5%

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• • 

  • Nick's Import

  2011 Signatory Vintage Glen Garioch 12 Year Old Small Batch Edition #14 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Highlands, SCOTLAND

  $119. 99

  Bottle

  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 48.2%

  The slightly different labelling for Signatory's 'Small Batch' series is because it's produced in collaboration with Germany's Kirsch Imports. The family run business has been going since 1976, and they have a strong relationship with Signatory Vintage. Uniformly bottled at a high strength with zero chill filtration, these whiskies have previously been selling for around $170 in Australia.

  Those who prefer classic bourbon maturation will find what they're looking for in this Glen Garioch. First-fill barrels deliver rich flavours of vanilla ice cream, orange chocolate and coconut. 48.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Other reviews... "Light yet complex example of Glen Garioch punches above its price point. Abv at a sweet spot." - whiskybase.com

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  • Nick's Import

  2012 Signatory Vintage Glendullan 11 Year Old 100 Proof Edition #32 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

  $119. 99

  Bottle

  $1439.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 57.1%

  "...this is very good." - whiskyfun.com

  That Glendullan is such an under-the-radar distillery is one of those curious anomalies in the Scotch whisky industry, as it produces over 5 million litres of alcohol a year. That makes it Diageo’s second largest distillery and one of the top 25 producers in the country. Of course, most of it goes into blends, but we love to import whiskies that everyone else seems to ignore whenever the opportunity arises (and the price is right). Matured in first-fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, this expression is said to have tons of fruit. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Other reviews... Warning! If you don't like a crazy fruit bomb, don't buy this. This is really a completely different profile than most dark sherry bombs from the 100 proof series. Incredibly many light and fresh sweet fruits. - whiskybase.com

  ...One gets the sense that Signatory has turned this successful series into something of their own A'bunadh, in a way. Imagine—batch #32! We had rather enjoyed some Glendullans from the Signatory UCF series. Colour: amber. Nose: well then, metal polish, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, tar, toffee, instant coffee, burnt raisins... In short, textbook sherry. With water: the arrival of unsurprising old walnuts. Mouth (neat): remarkable how much this brings to mind that other series we mentioned a few lines above. Bitter marmalade, chocolate, tobacco, leather and a pepper note that grows increasingly assertive. With water: there we go, it loosens up, though there’s even more spice—juniper, cloves, burnt sugar, pipe tobacco... Finish: very long, still on similar notes, with added pumpernickel. Comments: bone-dry oloroso, marching in step, just a little on the forceful side. No, this is very good... 86 points - whiskyfun.com

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• • 92
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  • Nick's Import

  St Bridget's Kirk Solera Batch #3 Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  SCOTLAND

  $109. 99

  Bottle

  $1319.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 48.5%

  This limited edition is created using Lady of the Glen's own method of blending malt whiskies. Drawing on different distilleries and styles, each batch is small, bespoke and distinct from the last; each blended, married and bottled from the company's custom built solera system made up of an ex-Fino sherry quarter cask and two ex-Oloroso quarter casks. Synonymous with the sherry and port industries, a solera involves multiple 'connected' barrels. As whisky is drawn from the last barrel the first barrel is topped up and the whiskies improve as they flow down the line. This is the 3rd batch under the St.Bridget's Kirk label and Hannah says they're now seeing real benefit from the process. In this example there's a rewarding balance of malt and sherry with any signs of youth now well into the background. Some tasters have found wisps of smoke. Instead we found the emphasis was on orange spice cake and cream tea biscuits. With an ice cube melting away, the emphasis shifts towards coffee cake and chocolate, also luxing up the mouthfeel. Very well integrated and much better than an everyday drinker. You'll find it hard to stop at one. 218 bottles. 48.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Other reviews... Taste: Oloroso-led arrival. Toffees and caramels. Treacle. Walnuts and winter spices. Black pepper – very peppery at first, though mellows over time. Medium to full-bodied. Velvety texture. Marmalade and honey. Oak – becomes more noticeably woody the longer it sits on the palate. Smoky finish lingers. Water reduces the intensity of the pepper and makes for a more rounded dram. It also seemed to unleash more of the smoke – with an earthier, more pungent peaty note coming through. Thought: Satisfying and fully flavoured. Not overly smoky but neither does the sherry completely dominate, although it certainly leads the way. With time and water the balance seemed to improve and make for a more interesting dram, at least for me – those who like that big sherry hit might prefer it without water. Tasting it on a crisp, Autumn day was a winner – the dram itself seems very Autumnal – like fallen leaves, distant coal fires and sultana cake. - ascotonscotch.com

  Notes from the bottlers... Old leather, orange peel, cola cubes, toasted marshmallow and smoked kippers.

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  • 96

  • Reduced

  2022 Nicks Secret CRAY Cabernet Shiraz

  Wrattonbully, South Australia, AUSTRALIA

  Reduced from $39.99

  $19. 99

  Bottle

  $239.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)

  ABV: 14.5%

  Closure: Stelvin

  From what is arguably considered to be Wrattonbully’s best producer, this Nicks Secret offering is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Shiraz matured in old French oak barriques and foudres for a period of 14 months. 2022 was a mild vintage and provided the perfect slow ripening framework for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in Wrattonbully.

  A classic Australian blend showing a Bordeaux like structure and elegance.

  Totally opaque black dark red core with a dark red hue. Elevated aromas of blackcurrant and liquorice mix with mulberry, tobacco, dried herb, earthy black olive and spicy cedar notes. Mid weighted and refined yet generously endowed with blackcurrant, mulberry and more subtle red liquorice fruit, the palate possesses both elegance and ample freshness. Dusty cedar, dried herb, earth, black olive and spice characters also chime in to lend further interest. Fine grained, yet quite sturdy tannins. Excellent length concluding long and spicy with a Bordeaux like finesse.
  Drink over the next 5-6 years.
  Alc. 14.5%

  Other Reviews…..
  57/43% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz. Matured in French oak barrels and foudres for 14 months. Raspberry gel, pomegranate juice and morello cherries in syrup. Blackberry wine gums, sage and thyme. This really encompasses the claret style, the ease of drinking and the ability to please an array of palates. Still knitting together, this wine will cellar very well, as it opens like a flower in slow motion. Tannins are lacy and fine with peaks of acidity dotted throughout the palate. Cinnamon, cumin and mace spice to finish. Drink by 2034.
  95 points
  Shanteh Wale – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

  The cooler vintage in Wrattonbully has contributed to a stylish medium bodied wine of impeccable presentation and poise. The medium bodied fruit has been worked with only old French oak and foudres, so as not to overpower. Nice combination of black fruits with a red fruit lift in a perfumed style with deeper slightly meaty black fruit characters. The tannins are finely integrated in this wine of great poise that will continue to evolve with extended cellaring. Drink 2024-2039.
  96 points
  Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com

  Time and time again, it is the tannin profile in fruit off the ***** Vineyard in Wrattonbully – with soils and geology dating back 35 million years – that both delights and, occasionally, astounds. Tannins – invariably naturally integrated – help so much to give the wines a sense of place and presence, but always remain a bit of a background note for both drinkers and critics, alike. That, in itself, says a lot. So, take it as read, that the tannin profile adds that X Factor to this wine (and its score). Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) and Shiraz (43%) go head to head and it makes for something a little savoury, a little minerally, a little earthy and generous in flavour. Dark fruited, spice-fuelled with chocolate and notes of earth and leather roll across the tongue effortlessly. It’s both warm and friendly but also structured. Those tannins together with the grapes’ natural acidity – the springs and gears of the wine – looking good. Shines bright now, but neither will it dim over the next 10 years or more. Drink 2024-2036.
  95 points
  Jeni Port – WinePilot.com

  A classic Australian claret Wrattonbully style and this smashes the brief. Vibrant and downright delicious, this is a fabulous Cabernet Shiraz to rip into.
  Scents of pan juices, mushroom broth and dried violets light things up before a swathe of energetic blackberries and black currants rise up. Subtle earthiness, red cherries and dark chocolate aren't far from the action and do their best to steal the limelight. Some savoury delights come in the form of dried sage and dried thyme with fine pillows of grainy and dusty tannins. The structure and shape are most impressive but what strikes me is its detail and presence, and even after a few days of tasting, it presented an attractive glossy sheen. Glorious!
  Drink to eight years.
  95 points
  QWineReviews.com

  This wine is both stern and flushed with fruit. You could call it impeccable and be done with it. Blackcurrant, gravel, mint and char notes are served both tannic and creamy, with subtle tobacco notes rising from the wine as it breathes. There’s no real flamboyance here – it is of course still young – but everything about this wine hovers around gold medal standard. Drink 2026-2034+
  93+ points
  Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front

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• • 94
  • 

  2021 Turkey Flat Butchers Block Red Blend

  Barossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA

  $23. 99

  Bottle

  $287.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)

  ABV: 14.4%

  Closure: Stelvin

  A blend of 56% Grenache, 38% Shiraz and 6% Mataro matured in French oak hogsheads and puncheons. Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Delightful red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and red cherry aromas are intermixed with earthy graphite, dried herb and pepper like notes. Juicy dark raspberry, cherry and liquorice fruits are delivered with a combination of concentration, energy and structure over a back drop of scorched earth, vanillin spice and peppered dried herbs. Sturdy yet well integrated tannins impart a gently chewy feel onto the long succulent pepper infused finish.
  Drink over the next 5-6 years.
  Alc. 14.4%

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  • Reduced

  Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 18 Year Old Peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Highlands, SCOTLAND

  Reduced from $169.99

  $139. 99

  Bottle

  $1679.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 40%

  A noteworthy price for a peater with this kind of age statement. It's another batch from what some have nicknamed "the ampersand clan" (aka Atom Brands). As a senior member of the Seaweed & Aeons family, this heavily peated Highlander spent 18 years maturing with a portion of the whisky believed to have come out of sherry casks. If Ardmore is your style, this should tick all the right boxes. 40% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Other reviews... A secret single malt from the Highlands, though it does feel a touch peculiar presenting this sort of thing at 40% vol. Ex-Seagram/Pernod Ricard stock, perhaps? Ardmore, maybe? Colour: light gold. Nose: well yes, it’s charming, fresh yet peaty, with notes of bacon, lemon zest, engine oil and tar, and above all a good deal of toasted sesame oil. Mouth: it holds its own at 40%, smoky, bordering on sooty, yet indeed there’s not the faintest whiff of the sea, not even the shyest of periwinkles. Thoroughbred peated Highlands, in short. Finish: surprisingly long, with smoked tea and lemon... Comments: no, this is both lovely and delicious, it’s just that I can’t quite locate the ‘seaweed’ element, but no complaints otherwise. 87 points - whiskyfun.com

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