One Litre Scotch Super Deals

A new version of Aberfeldy's 16 year old has been released as part of their duty free exclusive series. This time the famously fruity Speysider has been finished for a year in a combination of Malmsey and Bual Madeira wine casks. Expect soft notes of honey freshened with citrus and delicate tones of baked apples, cinnamon and creamy vanilla. Big one litre format. Other reviews... The nose is complex and rich with touches of citrus fruits, honey, and muted spices. The spices come alive on the palate with intense notes of cinnamon and allspice complemented nicely by apple cobbler, vanilla, and honey. The finish is long and well-balanced as the cinnamon spiciness fades away gently while lingering apple and honey notes tickle the back of the throat. Excellent!
93 points 40% Alc./Vol. - whiskycast.com, Mark Gillespie January, 2019

A throwback to when Highland distilleries dried their barley with the sweet smoke of local peat. It's also finished in smaller Quarter Casks, so it's fuller and richer than most, as well as having distinct smokey notes. Non chill filtered. Other reviews... [46% ABV tasted] My guess, due to an extra fraction of sweetness and spice, is that it is the former [caramel has been added]. All that said, the overall experience remains quite beautiful. And this remains one of my top ten distilleries in the world. 88.5 points 46% Alc./Vol.- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019 ... This is non-chill filtered and finished in a “Quarter Cask,” similar to Laphroaig Quarter Cask (same owners). Ardmore remains one of the few Speyside whiskies made with peat-smoked malt. Chewy, almost oily-textured, with sweet notes of toffee and caramel up front, followed by emerging damp, earthy peat and bourbon-like notes. The oaky, resinous bourbon lingers through the finish. The bourbon oak intensity dominates to a degree, disrupting the harmony of the remaining flavors. A whisky of great potential, but still waiting to achieve some of it.
80 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: John Hansell (Fall 2008)

A new travel retail exclusive Dalmore, made by marrying three exceptional casks. Matured initially in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, the spirit was then transferred to 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass, before being finished in Port pipes from Portugal. Named in honour of the brave actions of Colin of Kintail, Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, when he saved the life of King Alexander III of Scotland.

”Not often you get the words “Valour” and “fudge” in the same sentence." - 85 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018

The perfect Winter session whisky for those who don't like peat. Named after the Valley in which the distillery is located, Forgue was hot on the heels of Glendronach's 15 year old re-release earlier this year (for Australia). It's a 10-year-old single malt matured in a combination of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, also marking the distillery’s first expression dedicated to Travel Retail. Tasting note: Amber gold. Builds with aromas of baking spice (cinnamon, vanilla), prunes, raisin cake and light orange zest. Feels like there's a little more PX than Oloroso influence, with nicely balanced, middle weight flavours of raisins, dried apricot and dark chocolate relieved by delicate peel freshness. Showing good body, texture and richness, it rounds off with gingery warmth, juicy fruit cake and bubblegum flavours through the aftertaste. Like a slightly toned down version of the 'Original', the one litre format and 43% ABV up the value. Non chill filtered.

Unquestionably Australia's Best Deal in Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

 

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 and very, very rarely at this price/volume ratio.

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
- www.wineenthusiast.com

 

...up one point within seven or eight years. Seriously, this is excellent, classic malt whisky. - www.whiskyfun.com

"A superb re-working of an always trustworthy malt... What a sensational success!" - Jim Murray

Of the more contemporary age statement bottlings, Jim Murray enthuses over this one more than most, rating it just one point below the venerable 40 year old!

Tasting note: [2014 bottling] Deep gold. Shortbread and enticing vanilla custard on the nose; decidedly fuller, richer and overall slightly better balanced than the 10 year old, however, there's an odd match box/pickled onion flavour and a sharp edge to the profile that leaves you wanting. Concludes semi sweet, spiced up with gingery warmth but a little thin to finish. 43% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... A superb re-working of an always trustworthy malt... What a sensational success!
94 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021

Nose:Deceptive. Seems restrained, but at close quarters is quite powerful. Nutty, with a splash of lemony sourness.Palate:Big, firm. Hard toffee. Burnt, peat-smoke, notes. Finish: Spicy. Ginger snaps. Shortbread. Long, lingering. Comment: Confident. Straightforward. A first-class whisky. Well-rounded. No-nonsense. 8.5/10 - Michael Jackson - whiskymag.com

Big age statement + New shipment = Guilt free dramming. Stock up!

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 affordable because 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”.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. Normally duty free exclusive. 43% Alc./Vol

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

The travel exclusive Cask Collection celebrates Glenfiddich's unique Solera process which marries whiskies matured in specially selected oak casks to ensure continuity of flavour. The vats allow the individual flavours found in each cask to mellow and intermingle in a large handmade tun that's always kept at least half full to create ultimate consistency.

This edition was matured in Bourbon, European Oak and red wine casks before marrying in the Solera vat.

Other reviews... Another from Glenfiddich’s three new solera vats, here we can see the distillery’s light character turned up to the max thanks to a mix of American oak, red wine casks, and a smidgen of sherry. Think of hyacinth, ultra-fresh William pear, light barley, and grass. Zesty, clean and light, and ridiculously drinkable with a silky feel in the middle of the tongue. Quite a bargain. (Travel Retail exclusive.) 86 points
- www.maltadvocate.com, (Winter 2013) Reviewed by: Dave Broom

Other reviews... Here, a new solera vat is home to a Glenfiddich that has been exclusively aged in sherry casks, and shows its origins with deep, black fruitiness, orange peel, and sultana. The signature pears of ’Fiddich here are dried and sit next to moist fruitcake. Ripe and long, with toffee, a pleasant wisp of sulfur, and blackberry. An easy-going sherried style that’s ideal for the beginner. (Travel Retail exclusive.) 40% Alc./Vol.
86 points - maltadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Winter 2013)

Representing Glenlivet’s signature style, this malt was matured in American oak ex bourbon casks and European oak ex-Sherry casks. The fruity / vanilla combination makes for a smooth, balanced everyday drinker. Solid buying in this one litre format. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The nose yields orange and lime, canned pineapple, and light caramel notes. Elegant, with some substance on the palate, with vanilla and brittle toffee underpinned by vibrant orchard fruits, honey, and milk chocolate. The finish features more milk chocolate, gentle oak, and ginger. Best Value.
87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2020)