4716 products

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Welcome to the largest range of Single Malt Scotch Whisky in Australia. Nicks Wine Merchants go further than any other whisky retailer dealing with hundreds of suppliers, both locally and overseas in order to offer you the most eclectic selection as well as some of the very best prices in Single Malt Scotch in Australia today. We cover official distillery bottlings, independents, antiques and collectables as well as many lines otherwise only available via duty free, all shipped to most areas of Australia. We also taste and rate many of the whiskies and/or include third party reviews to guide you further in your purchase. Click here to learn more about Scotch Whisky. Subscribe to our Spirits and Liqueurs Email Newsletter to keep up to date with new arrivals, whisky tastings, special offers and more.

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- Nick's Import
2011 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Dailuaine 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 57.3%

A first fill bourbon barrel offers accelerated wood impact compared with more widely used refill hogsheads, due to the richer oak, and higher surface-to-liquid ratio. Arguably, however, accelerated maturation is only possible with a robust style like the meaty make of Dailuaine. Its distillate is not easily overpowered and balances the vanilla sweetness with a profound savoury element. This example has keynotes of citrus fruit and sweet nuts. Cask 800471 yielded 241 bottles at a natural strength of 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Yellow gold. Nose: Bright tangerine, vanilla custard and toasted marshmallow. Palate: Desiccated coconut, ginger snap and brioche loaf. Finish: Thick, oozy honey lifted by tart citrus and gentle cinnamon.
If unusual aromas and flavours are what you seek from a whisky, then single casks are the place to find them. Beyond the fruity esters and the softening sweetness imparted by oak that distillers like to amplify, seasoned drammers relish the road less travelled. Their eyes light up to the smell of sweaty leather or burlap sacks or birthday candles. Master distillers may cringe, yet these weird and wacky side notes are what keeps whisky interesting. Of course, it would be a brave decision for any major distillery to release thousands of cases of anything exhibiting flavours that some might consider to be “off” notes. But for an independent bottler, the tiny quantities involved in a single cask make releasing whiskies that may be deemed out of character much less risky. That's why many of A.D.Rattray's single cask picks cater to the curious, often valuing intrigue over perfection. In stock evaluations they often note casks as “flawless” - a technical assessment of quality, but on its own, not necessarily high praise from Rattray. Everything is there, but where is the hook? Can a whisky be too balanced? In fact, it's not unusual for Rattray to overlook casks that simply aren’t interesting enough, rather than reject them for exhibiting peculiar notes. For drinkers who share their passion, this is the collection for you.

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1996 A.D. Rattray Vintage Cask Collection Bowmore 26 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1299. 00
Bottle
$15588.00 Dozen

ABV: 42.8%

Stepping up one tier from the "Cask Collection", Rattray's Vintage Cask Collection represents the oldest and rarest Scotch whiskies in their portfolio. Single casks are selected from what they consider Scotland's most prestigious distilleries. Each comes suitably presented to match the contents. Thanks to the Morrison family, the stories of A. D. Rattray and Bowmore will be forever entwined. This selection promises an enchanting Islay from the mid 1990s, whisking you away to the shores of Loch Indaal for a blissfully long summer evening. We've sourced a handful of the 235 bottles produced. 42.8% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Burnt orange. Nose: Warm lavender, blackcurrant, fennel seed and birch wood smoke. Palate: Roast chestnut, pork crackling, tangerine and pine. Finish: Tangy peat oil coats the tongue, bringing waves of sea salt and lime.

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2012 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Glenburgie 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$139. 99
Bottle
$1679.88 Dozen

ABV: 53%

Particularly revered in Japan, in recent years, more effort has gone into marketing Glenburgie as a single malt and sales have increased significantly. Ex-bourbon wood is the perfect platform for this characterful Speyside spirit. The traits which make Glenburgie so highly-prized for blenders - aromatic and grassy, with orchard fruits, a cereal sweetness and oily mouthfeel – are all in abundance in this edition. No wonder it’s such a vital component of Ballantine’s, the world’s second biggest selling Scotch! Rattray's outturn was 308 bottles at 53% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Colour: Shortbread gold. Nose: White peach, San Francisco sourdough and forced rhubarb. Palate: Golden linseed muesli, candied grapefruit and cantaloupe à la mode. Finish: Lemongrass and lime with a crisp white pepper pizzazz.

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1986 A.D. Rattray Vintage Cask Collection Glenrothes 36 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$1199. 00
Bottle
$14388.00 Dozen

ABV: 42.1%

Glenrothes is at its very best when it comes out of Bourbon wood with a massive age statement. In this case it was a refill hogshead. Given the steady rise in prices for malts of this ilk and category, Rattray's offering remains very reasonable. The maturation encompasses Diego Maradona’s magic in Mexico 1986 and Lionel Messi’s majesty in Qatar 2022. The whisky is elegant, bold, full of flair and "velvety signature of ultimate maturity." A celebratory dram befitting the most special occasions. The cask yielded 220 bottles. 42.1 Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Sunset gold. Nose: Brazil nut, elderflower, mango and saffron. Palate: Juniper, bergamot oil, cacao nib and liquorice. Finish: Orange blossom honey and the unmistakable, velvety signature of ultimate maturity.

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2011 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Balblair 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 57.4%

Balblair is a characterful make that’s rarely in the spotlight. Here's a bit of a twist on one from an indie: Finished in a two year-seasoned, first-fill Oloroso sherry European oak butt for one year, following maturation in a refill sherry butt for over eleven years, this Balblair is defined by dried fruit notes. European oak typically imparts a greater spice and depth of character than soft, sweet American oak. Combined with a high strength expression, you can expect a big'un! 604 bottles produced. 57.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Warm copper. Nose: Sticky raisin, may rose and morello cherry. Palate: Dried cranberry, bergamot and sugared almond. Finish: Exotic Turkish delight with pistachio and date.

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2015 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Dalmunach 8 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$139. 99
Bottle
$1679.88 Dozen

ABV: 65.9%

Built in 2014 on the site of the old Imperial distillery, Dalmunach is a new Pernod-Ricard backed project at the forefront of the latest wave of new Scottish distilleries. Filled less than a year after the first spirit flowed from the stills, this refill hogshead provides the perfect stage to showcase this newcomer’s flavours of cereal and orchard fruit. Drawn from a single bourbon hogshead at an intense ABV of 65.9%, cask 4191 filled 300 bottles. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Sun-blushed gold. Nose: Grapefruit oil, toasted multigrain bread and spiced chive butter. Palate: Grilled peach, rolled oat granola and damson jam. Finish: Mouthwatering orchard fruit and citrus liven the charred oak base.

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2010 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Craigellachie 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$159. 99
Bottle
$1919.88 Dozen

ABV: 57.1%

Around 14 years old seems to be a good age for Craigellachie, a fact confirmed by the official release 13 year old which remains the distillery's leading line. Long fermentations are responsible for a fragrant, fruity aspect in the distillate, giving it a tropical and slightly floral edge that's most noticeable in mature examples. In this 14 year old from Rattray, tradition and heritage meet experimentation and modernity via an “old-style” spirit drawn from an x Bourbon barrel acquired back in 2010. It's been given an extra layer of complexity through finishing in a first-fill Burgundy red wine cask. Matching casks with secondary woods is a continual learning process. Here the bottlers say the spirit has gained appreciable notes of Pinot Noir, complementing Craigellachie's characteristically full-bodied base. Cask No.18 yielded 296 bottles at 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Nectarine gold. Nose: Fresh iris, blackcurrant jam and apricot toasted oat crumble. Palate: Charred peach, dried cranberry and rose petal jelly. Finish: Spiced berry compote with a sprinkling of toasted pine nut.

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A.D. Rattray Cask Speyside Sherry Finish 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The ten year old predecessor to this edition received praise from the likes of Jim Murray (89 points). This latest Cask Speyside ups the age statement and includes a spell in sherry casks. The rich, spiced berry flavours make an indulgent contrast to the refreshing citrus flavours of the ten. Un-coloured and non-chill-filtered, it's good to see Rattray maintaining the higher abv in this super value series. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Despite the finish, it got a lot of sherry, modern profile, of course. More in the direction of PX, very sweet, toffee, orange peel, apple and almonds. On the palate there is a clear hint of oak, a bit bitter, slightly tingling, very spicy, again orange or orange jam and a hint of red fruit. Quite long finish, spicy, slightly bitter, warming. The 46% drinking strength is just right. Imho did the finish right here for the malt. - whiskybase.com
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Almond icing, dusted cinnamon, red apple and blackcurrant. Palate: Cherry plum, spiced honey and zesty orange marmalade. Finish: Rolling gently through subtle spice to a lightly tart, bramble conclusion. Spiced berry, citrus and orchard fruit.

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- 90
- Nick's Import
A.D. Rattray Cask Orkney 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

A mystery Orkney. Could it be Scapa? The notes from the bottlers describe a peppery-smokey character, so it's the other. Not a mainstream Highland Park that most will be accustomed to, which is what you want from an independent. At first, mezcal-like, and subtle smoke indeed, instead, a rather fresh, grassy, crisp expression with trace peat. Fascinating and strangely compelling compared to the official bottlings, once attuned to the right amount of water it makes for a good aperitif. Otherwise, add an ice cube or two, release the oils and richen up the experience. Mimimal water is required. One reviewer sums it up as "...a great summer whisky. Lovely honied malty waxy notes; a good ex-bourbon maturation". It's out of the ordinary for the age statement, but at this price and ABV, grabbing a bottle is't much of a gamble. 46% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Nose: A freshness opens the dram, before vanilla, coconut, lemon peel, and some red berries — think raspberries. Palate: That freshness continues alongside cream soda, orange and lemon peel, some apple skin, blossom honey, brioche, and just a hint of sweet spice like ginger powder. Finish: Decent length on the finish here without too much tannin. Comment: Sweet and mellow with lots of sweet bourbon-cask character. - whiskymag.com
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Butterscotch gold. Nose: Clover honey, Parma violet, ripe peach and wild heather embers. Palate: Grilled plum, old-fashioned barley sugar, noble hop and caraway. Finish: A prolonged peppery smoke lifted by tart citrus and foraged pine.

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2012 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Craigellachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 65%

Craigellachie is notable as a full bodied and slightly sulphurous malt (in a good way) used primarily to add punch to blends. Part of it's charm is that the distillery still uses old-fashioned worm tubs with low copper content, said to add weight and a beef-stock kind of flavour while also resulting in whiskies that “taste older than they are”. This may well be one of the boldest drams for the year. Starting with an already heavyweight make, it then gets finished for around 30 months in one of Rattray's exceptional Glenallachie x-Sherry butts. These casks lend notes of red berry and baking spice to the classic Craigellachie toasted oat, cereal base. A selection to suit the adventurous before beginners, it's another bomb of a malt capped off by a whopping 65% Alc./Vol. The yield was 552 bottles. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Autumn leaf. Nose: Seville orange, roast plum and crystallized ginger. Palate: Raspberry jam, juicy nectarine and lemon zest. Finish: Sweet, sticky marmalade with hints of walnut and clove.

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2007 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Teaninich 16 Years Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$179. 99
Bottle
$2159.88 Dozen

ABV: 57.8%

Rattray had a sister cask to this one (#461) released at 14 years old in 2021. By comparison, Bourbon hogshead #462 was afforded two further years of maturation through perhaps the most significant mid-teen ageing period, allowing fresh orchard fruits to develop into more tart citrus notes over the ever-present, hearty cereal base. 290 bottles were filled at 57.8% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Polished gold. Nose: Chalky lemon, honey pomelo and soda bread. Palate: Rustic loaf, Parma violet and fresh lime. Finish: Subtle saffron, liquorice and ginger decorate the palate.

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- 91
- Nick's Import
A.D. Rattray Stronachie Small Batch Release (Benrinnes) 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

"The obliteration is total. Only the name remains." So ends the story of Stronachie, a distillery which rose out of the wilderness in the 1890s. Set in a desolate glen on the Perth-Kinross border it stood between bleak hills on an isolated road that toiled its way through the Ochill mountains. Stronachie Distillery produced a traditional Highland-style whisky until 1928 and during its four decades of production A.D. Rattray Ltd represented the brand in Scotland. Rattray is proud to revive the Stronachie name and reproduce this spirit of another time. To replicate the whisky, a bottle of original Stronachie 1904 was purchased at auction - one of only four bottles left in existence. A small sample was drawn, then samples of many Highland malt whiskies were compared to the original Stronachie. Finally, the remote and high altitude Benrinnes was chosen.
There are many, many very positive user reviews on the web for this pale gold, Bourbon cask matured dram. The nose is pristinely clean with malt and vanilla opening sniffs followed by oatmeal biscuit, cocoa and dried fruits. Light and easy on entry, building concentration and balance through the mid palate with lovely vanilla malt and honeyed notes framed by spicy oak. The finish is dry, mildly fruity and soft. So eminently drinkable, you can understand why Stronachie has developed such a loyal following. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A quite outstanding 10 y.o. Speyside. I don't remember how I 'found ' Stronachie but boy am I glad I did. For it is simply the best 10 y.o. I have ever tasted, and is in my top five whiskies of all time. I am a tour guide for the American market and visit a lot of distilleries all over Scotland, so although not 'an expert' I have learnt a lot in the last six years. I have repeat ordered this whisky more times than any other and all friends and others who have tasted it agree with my praise of it. I am just going to order another couple of bottles (one as a thank you present). Finally thank you to A D Rattray for your unstinting quest for perfection (someone has to do it after all!) and thank you to Benrinnes Distillery for producing (and of course all the other distilleries in Scotland) such a wonderful nectar.  My observation on Stronachie: Light , sweet, malty, amazingly smooth with a finish that lingers gently and helps to set you up for the next one. - A.D. Rattray customer review

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- Nick's Import
A.D. Rattray Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Double Gold Medal Winner in the 2016 & 2017 San Fransisco World Spirits Competition.
Yet another independent bottler hits Australian shores, boasting a strong reputation for quality. Founded by Andrew Dewar Rattray in 1868, the company began trading as an importer of French wines, Italian spirits and olive oil. More importantly, the firm established itself as a specialist in the field of blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies. After several changes in ownership, it returned to the family and is presently owned by Tim Morrison, previously of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and fourth generation descendent of the founder. The company’s resurgence came about in 2002 with the bottling of a ‘new’ Stronachie. In April 2004, using his extensive industry knowledge, Morrison then bottled a selection of his own handpicked whiskies and the A.D. Rattray Cask Collection was born. Plans for their new Glasgow-based distillery were approved in 2014.
Peated to 35ppm, Cask Islay is assembled from up to twenty casks from the one distillery, mostly x-bourbon barrel matured, though some ex-sherry hogsheads are reportedly in the mix. It is unashamedly Islay in its semi-sweet, sooty peat character that's complexed by suggestions of orange cake, cough lozenge, hints of smoked fish and later, banana cake. Because this series is bottled at 46% with zero chill filtration, the whiskies are surprisingly concentrated. Here, the medium dry, spicy profile features sooty malt and vanilla with some apparent sherry influence towards the finish as this gets more dried fruit-like. There's also real staying power with Fisherman's Friend carrying the aftertaste. A sit-back-and-relax island treat at a very reasonable price. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Does what it says on the tin. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
...A.D. Rattray! Glad to meet one of their recent bottlings, I had thought they were, well, gone. Or busy with the Outer-Mongolian market. We had an early batch of their Cask Islay in 2011, and thought it was pretty good (WF 83). Colour: white wine. Nose: reeks of young Caol Ila, which can’t be bad news. Apples, garden bonfire, seawater, whelks, oysters, fresh almonds, and lemons. There. Mouth: purrfekt, with some impeccable ashy smoke (very CI indeed) and more almonds, lemons, apples, and those tiny green crabs that people would rather throw into wild broths and soups. Oh and apples, naturally. Okay, I had mentioned apples before. Finish: rather long, very ashy, kippery, and with apples and lemons in the aftertaste. Comments: a great batch despite the youth and the (relative) simplicity. Not much depth, but all the rest is perfect. Welcome back, A.D. Rattray! 84 points - whiskyfun.com

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Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$84. 99
Bottle
$1019.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

A step up from the standard 12 year old, this direct import Aberfeldy is selling at the same price as Duty Free! Expect a lighter style dram where the Madeira casks impart hints of honey and nuts. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... One might imagine that, at the very least, travel retail finishes would be tailored to airports. Here, for instance, Funchal, naturally, or perhaps Lisbon, Faro or… er, Porto. No, forget it… Colour: gold. Nose: a few slightly dirty touches of mustard and aged walnuts—not unpleasant, in fact—dried raisins and toasted almonds, a hint of paprika, then some earthy notes. Quite pleasant. Mouth: pepper, mustard, walnut wine, a touch of burnt caramel and bitter chocolate, with a relatively powerful attack despite the low ABV. However, it quickly becomes rather prickly on the nose and turns increasingly drying, with hints of mushroom. A pity, as the combination is interesting. Finish: rather short, heavily on the Madeira, with Worcestershire sauce at this stage. Comments: one could almost use it in cooking, perhaps in a Madeira sauce. But of course! The 40% ABV is pretty low, that’s for sure, but it’s a nice drop in the end. 80 points - whiskyfun.com

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Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Cadillac Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$149. 99
Bottle
$1799.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

"...a delightful whisky and one of Aberfeldy’s best ever." - drinkhacker.com
Finishing this 15-year-old Aberfeldy in Semillon sweet white wine casks from Cadillac brings a balance of opulence and freshness to the whisky. Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod sourced the casks from a 40-hectare estate in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers, Gironde, just south of Bordeaux. Exuding notes of yellow fruits, florals,and a burst of citrus, seamlessly melding with Aberfeldy's signature soft, honeyed character, the wine influence makes the whisky brighter than the 12 year old, also giving it more body and a longer finish. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A 15 year old single malt finished in French semillon “Cadillac” white wine casks. I presume Cadillac refers to the region of France near Bordeaux, known for its sweet wine production, but details are scarce. This is a delightful whisky and one of Aberfeldy’s best ever. The nose is beautiful and sweet, though there’s a slightly savory quality that evokes notes of dried flowers, toasted oak, and a gentle maritime edge. Lemon curd and tangerine are the most prominent fruit elements, but these are kept in check, at least for now. The palate is where this whisky really shines, as all of the above come together in beautiful fashion, really showcasing the citrus notes of lemon and orange, filtered through golden syrup, gentle sandalwood, and a layer of baking spices. Cohesive but complex, it’s bright and immersive, with a noteworthy layer of honey on the finish. Sauternes is made (in part) from semillon grapes, and I have to assume this whisky was finished in a similar type wine barrel. No complaints from me. This review was delayed because I broke my first sample bottle; very glad I stuck it out waiting for a replacement. - drinkhacker.com

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- Nick's Import
Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$159. 99
Bottle
$1919.88 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Master Blender of the Year 2020, Stephanie Macleod continues her themed series of red wine matured malts. For this edition, she's given Aberfeldy a stint in casks that previously held Napa Valley Cabernet. Expect added notes of raspberry, cinnamon spice and coffee hovering above the distillery's sweet cereal profile. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Fruit greets the nose with fresh melon, sliced pear, and a hint of apricot marmalade. Eventually, vanilla pound cake, cinnamon stick, and tiramisu enter the picture. A decadent palate deliciously weaves together honey, just-ripe raspberries, cacao, and a dash of white pepper, making for a rich and winding ride. The finish goes on and on, with a squeeze of lemon and stewed pear capping it all off. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Applying secondary aging to fifteen year single malt scotch is a delicate balance. While this expression is certainly wine forward, I can still appreciate the essential qualities of aged single malt in its back notes and finish. While cabernet sauvignon is an unusual finish for scotch, it feels like a natural extension of the time-tested qualities of sherry finishes.rnrnIn the end, this expression brings the rich intensity of a cabernet sauvignon and the delicate depth of an aged Highland single malt. I don’t expect this to convert the single malt purists, but if the combination sounds interesting to you, then I think it's definitely worth finding a bottle. - thewhiskeywash.com
It's hard not to laugh, to me at least. Apparently, someone's decided that it would be a good idea to finish a 15 yo Aberfeldy, probably just fine, in some 'Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from the Napa Valley'. And French oak, I suppose. I mean, beyond the tastes, imagine the carbon footprint. Do they then export this to San Francisco? To Sausalito's bourgeoisie, you say? Colour: apricot. Nose: naturally, they are not stupid (of course they aren't), you do not feel the red wine upfront, you rather get fruitcakes, dried apricots, then heather honey and, indeed, some strawberry jam and marshmallows. At this point, we're still fine (even if I'd love some regular Aberfeldy instead)… Mouth: starts okay, then falls apart, killed by red berries and oak spices. Blackcurrants, never such a good idea in whisky, if you ask this very humble little taster. Clafoutis, Mon Chéri, green pepper, leaves, cherry stems… Pass. Finish: medium, leafy, bitterish, some chocolate in the aftertaste kind of saves it, though. Those Mon Chéri again. Comments: it's not that it's utterly bad, it's that it's not needed. But then again and again, only one man's opinion. 79 points - whiskyfun.com

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Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Bolgheri Tuscan Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 43%

Dewar’s Master Blender and Malt Master for Aberfeldy, Stephanie Macleod, is also passionate about wine. Marrying her two interests, she set out to see how different red wine casks effect whisky flavour. The first release in the series was a dram finished in Pomerol wine casks from Bordeaux. Subsequent bottlings have followed. This 2022 edition sees Aberfeldy finished in Bolgheri Tuscan red wine casks imparting robust, dark fruit flavours and an intense oak finish to the already fruity malt. Macleod takes a very active role in these maturations, repeatedly monitoring their progress ensuring that the malt doesn't get overwhelmed by red wine character. In this experiment, cherry frangipane and vanilla spice are said to be keynotes. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The casks used in this release came from Bolgheri, a small region of Tuscany. The Tuscan region is typically known for their Chianti wines, though Bolgheri has the distinction of introducing the world’s first “Super Tuscan Wine’. The terrain in Bolgheri is similar to the Bordeaux region in France (rocky limestone near the Tyrrhenian Sea), allowing non-native grapes from France, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, to be grown and used in the regions wines. Knowing that the same grapes grow in both France and Italy, its easy to see why Stephanie landed on using casks from the Bolgheri region....The idea to finish malts in red wine casks is an interesting idea, though hard to tell exactly how much it contributed to the final product. While the nose is a dense mess that’s hard to sort through, the palate is warm and inviting, with much complexity. Some water does help to open up the nose and palate, letting the Tuscan cask become more prevalent, yet it still seems like it could pull some more weight. - whiskeyreviewer.com

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Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$94. 99
Bottle
$1139.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

For over a century, Aberfeldy has maintained a hidden profile as the backbone of the famous Dewar’s blends (the best-selling Scotch in America as well as the distillery’s corporate owner). Aberfeldy's own line of re-vamped single malts started to roll out in 2014, with a five-strong range. Sales have since increased significantly. Situated between the Highlands and the Lowlands, the distillery is sometimes referred to as a 'Mid-Lowlander' and is considered one of the sweetest of all Scottish single malts, the result of extended fermentations coupled with slow distillation. Its approachable style has a honeycomb - breakfast cereal character and can be deliciously fruity. Sherried variants like the very successful 16 year old reveal a gutsier side of the distillate.
When it comes to the entry-level 12 year old, initial impressions are of fruit salad with scents of unripe canteloupe most salient along side dustings of dried coconut. Five minutes sees the fruity edge only slightly diminished. It's light and silky on entry but builds into a soft, light to medium bodied, elegant malt, the fruity / vanilla combination repeating at mid palate, followed by hints of oatmeal with moderate length. In short, an amiable 'Highlander' that's clearly intended for casual drinking. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... bright and lively, the sweetly honeyed cereal and buttery biscuits of a predominantly bourbon-barreled single malt (plus some refill and a touch of sherry) are immediate on both nose and palate. It’s approachable and comes across as just a little green but otherwise fully uncomplicated, with the focus squarely on well-sweetened grain notes as the palate builds. The finish offers just a touch of spice and at least nods toward the oak barrel, but it never attempts to complicate what comes across as an affordable sipper to get the night started. - drinkhacker.com
Golden and bright in the glass, the aroma suggests caramel apples. The palate shows plenty of oak and spice, opening with sandalwood and vanilla, plus a hint of baked apple. Adding water brings a mellow, malty effect, bringing in honey, ginger and a final flurry of cinnamon. 91 points - wineenthusiast.com
Fresh and floral, with lively tropical fruit, honey, and vanilla. Gentle on the palate, with a slight syrupy texture to its malty foundation. Youthful, orange marmalade finish with a hint of spice. A pleasant, easy-going whisky. 82 points
- maltadvocate.com, 4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4
... Nose: Beautifully intense malt with a cidery-apple fruitiness. Gentle oak and honey round off superbly. Palate: Fresh, almost crisp mouthfeel with outstanding sweet maltiness and an almost Irish pot-still firm fruitiness. Mouthwatering. Finish: Softly spiced with a long, rich malt follow-through. Comment: Really outstanding example of massively complex, classy but undiscovered malt. 85 points - Jim Murray, whiskymag.com
Gold Medal - Distillers' Single Malts 12 years and under - 2020 International Spirits Challenge
- Grand Gold Medal – Monde Selection, Belgium
- Gold Medal – Concours Mondial, Belgium
- Silver Medal – International Wine and Spirits Competition

Delivery Information
Aberfeldy 28 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$599. 00
Bottle
$7188.00 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.

A travel retail release that debuted in 2016, joining the 18 year old and a host of re-branded age statements. Readers should note, two different Aberfeldy 28 year olds were offered. The distillery released the 'Gold of Pitilie 28 year old’ (named after their Pitilie Burn water source). Only eight bottles of this 1985 vintage were produced, adorned with 22 and 24 carat gold leaf and priced at around AU$5K each. We have the ‘standard’ 40% ABV edition.

Other reviews... Surprisingly viscous for 40% ABV (though still could have a wee bit more oomph for my liking) and delivering a rich and creamy arrival which emphasises both sweetness and wood. Toffee and fudge are joined by ripe apples, poached pears and a heavy dose of old wood in the form of leather bound books, furniture polish and tobacco... a lovely drinking experience – it’s the type of whisky that’s both indulgent and refined, but also easy to get along with. Great balance of sweetness and bitterness with an old wood profile that still allows the more fruity underpinning flavours to shine through. Very tasty stuff indeed. Alas, the price of this one has completely skyrocketed. - thedramble.com

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
Aberlour Crafted Small Batch No. 1.2 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 58.8%

A welcome addition to Aberlour's portfolio, which, besides the NAS Abunadh, generally lacks cask strength options. The decent age statement and zero chill filtration add to the allure. These limited releases are batched, so ABVs and maturations will vary. For No.1.2, the cask regime was 42.6% American oak and 57.4% European oak. The result is a tantalising mix of spiced apple strudel, milk chocolate, date and raisin notes. 58.8% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... On the nose, it's very soft, brioche, cake dough, then honeyed, acacia honey, pine needles, dry earth, dried prunes, dates, figs, bananas and grapefruit, a hint of vanilla, a lemon zest. On the palate, the fruits are a little more present, creamy, but also this rough side of wood bark, resin, maple syrup, blood oranges, medlars, apricots a little floury. Intense spices, cumin, cloves. Long and quite explosive finish, licorice, very spicy, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, pineapple juice. A very solid Aberlour, living up to its reputation, with plenty of fruit and velvet. - whiskybase.com

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
Aberlour Casg Annamh Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 9

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$119. 99
Bottle
$1439.88 Dozen

ABV: 48%

Sheer approachability has helped Aberlour become the most popular whisky in France, where more single malt is consumed than any other country. At around 40%, it's a polite, relaxed and sometimes, slightly wanting tasting experience. As an alternative for those who prefer sherry with a kick, owners Pernod-Ricard introduced the natural strength A'bunadh around 2000. Eighteen years later, Casg Annamh was launched as a French Exclusive in a similar vein (the name translates from the Gaelic as “rare cask”). Also influenced by Oloroso, it's matured in three types of casks: European oak Sherry casks and two different types of American oak . Like A'bunadh, Casg Annamh is batch specific, with about ten iterations to date, some better than others. Whichever you come across, they're all handsomely packaged with a wax seal stopper, while the extra ABV and zero chill filtration make a world of difference. 48% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
- Packaging may vary
- ABV may vary
- Batch may vary
Aberlour A'bunadh Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$154. 99
Bottle
$1859.88 Dozen

Aberlour’s cask strength A’bunadh has long been a darling of single malt aficionados, released in batches, each varies in proof and flavour as proportions of older or younger material make the cut, but the brief remains the same: Make a 100% ex-oloroso sherry aged malt using the inventory at hand (anywhere from 5 to 25 years old). Keep it natural, which means zero chill filtration, keep it balanced and keep it affordable. No information about the number of bottles from each batch of A’bunadh is offered, but they're large outturns for a global community, which makes for a significant blending challenge. That hasn't stopped collectors and fans of sherried malts from stocking up on those that are deemed better than others. With or without water, whichever way you like it, A'bunadh is worth checking out as you encounter it, at least so long as value remains Pernod-Ricard's priority.

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
- Not gift boxed
- Reduced
Aberlour Double Sherry Cask Finish 18 Year Old Batch No. 003 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $299.00
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 43%

You have to get the bottle out of the tube in order to identify the batches on these older Aberlours. This one's number three in the series, matured for 18 years and finished in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. We presume that the intent of the batches is to introduce subtle variations to tasters, probably by varying the ratios of PX vs oloroso casks. According to Aberlour, in this example you get flavours of apricot, chocolate coated raisins, liquorice root and freshly grated nutmeg. The PX sherry comes through the finish which has lasting sweetness. Serge Valentin of whiskyfun.com says these bottlings are so easy to drink, they should come with a warning: "Never pour more than 2cl in your glass at any time, and never refill before your (or your guests') glass is totally empty, or you won't control anything." Consider the price when compared with 'conspicuous consumption' equivalents like Macallan and this is looking like an attractive proposition. 43% Alc./Vol.

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Aberlour Forest Reserve 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $99.99
$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Recently re-packaged and subtitled 'Forest Reserve', Aberlour's 10 year old is one of the world's top selling single malts. Along with the new look, there's been a slight change to the maturation regime - this expression has had an additional finishing in French Limousin oak barrels after spending most of its time in Bourbon and Sherry casks.

Other reviews... [Original 10YO bottling] Orange-amber hue. Inviting aromas of orange marmalade and Sherry. Moderately full-bodied with mouth-coating viscosity. Well-balanced flavors of honeycomb, heather, oloroso Sherry, and citrus peel with a hint of herbaceous peat. Finishes with a warm, satisfying glow of alcohol. A sure bet as a digestif.
91 points (Exceptional) - tastings.com

Founded on its current site by James Fleming in 1879, the village ‘Aberlour’ (Gaelic for Mouth of the Chattering Burn) became nationally famous in the 19th century for its orphanage. The town has preserved much of its historical character. Original houses, built of stones taken from the bed of the Spey, mingle with more recent buildings and landscaped public gardens. Aberlour's spectacular setting on the banks of the Spey makes it easy to see what made it such an attractive place to found a community and a distillery. Built alongside the Lour burn, Aberlour uses pure spring water that rises through peat and granite from Ben Rinnes. The St Drostan Well stone was erected to mark the location of the spring, which was used by St Drostan to baptise the local population in the 7th century, and is also featured on Aberlour’s label.

Delivery Information
- Not gift boxed
Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$109. 99
Bottle
$1319.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Whilst many Australian whisky enthusiasts are familiar with the traditional sherried bottlings from Aberlour distillery, many parts of Europe are privy to its more curious variants which combine whiskies derived from both sherry and bourbon casks, varying in proportion. We have sourced a small quantity of these relatively unknown expressions just to showcase what this distillery capable of.

Other Reviews... Fruitier, sweeter, and more straightforward than the new 16 year old. Ripe tangerine, orchard fruit, and caramel apples, all on a bed of nutty toffee. Underlying notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, with a dusting of dark chocolate. After the sweetness fades away, there’s lingering spice and oak resin on the finish. A good alternative to Macallan 12 year old or Glenfarclas 12 year old.
84 points. John Hansell - whiskyadvocate.com

Delivery Information
Aberlour A'bunadh Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 032

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$299. 00
Bottle
$3588.00 Dozen

ABV: 60.4%

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

At the time of writing, we're up to Batch 84 in the series. This historical bottling goes way back (circa 2011). The dark colour looks like some older sherry casks made it to the mixing vat. One to collect or set aside for a special occasion. 60.4% Alc./Vol.
Each batch of Abunadh varies in proof and flavour as proportions of older or younger material make the cut, but the brief remains the same: Make a 100% ex-oloroso sherry aged malt using the inventory at hand (anywhere from 5 to 25 years old). Keep it natural, which means zero chill filtration, keep it balanced and keep it affordable. No information about the number of bottles from each batch of A’bunadh is offered, but they're large outturns for a global community, which makes for a significant blending challenge. That hasn't stopped collectors and fans of sherried malts from stocking up on those that are deemed better than others.

Delivery Information
- 92
- Limit One per customer
2014 Adelphi Ardnamurchan 10 Year Old Australian Exclusive Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$199. 99
Bottle
$2399.88 Dozen

ABV: 54.6%

Distilled in 2014, Adelphi's Cask 18 is a milestone for Ardnamurchan, marking their second decade-old release (Cask 10 debuted last year for a festival in Edinburgh). Unpeated, fully matured in a single x-bourbon cask and bottled in 2024, the lasting impression is closer to well-aged Kilkerran than previous distillery expressions. An initial honey-vanilla sweetness imparted by the barrel slightly subdues the distillate - or it could just be age kicking in? Whatever the case, the coastal vibrancy found in younger bottlings is dialled back. There is, however, more of a dried apricot, sponge cake or sweet bread character to enjoy through the mid palate, and there's a sense of elegance that's similar to Ardnamurchan's Paul Launois releases. Landing at 54.6% ABV, non-chill filtered and with natural colour, Adelphi are offering 273 bottles as an Australian exclusive. Collectors should consider it for its rarity and historical significance. Tasted from a 20ml sample.

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2013 Adelphi Deanston 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$219. 99
Bottle
$2639.88 Dozen

ABV: 58.2%

Bourbon casks are standard for most Deanstons, complementing the distillate's natural sweetness while adding layers of vanilla and tropical fruit. This ten year old should have plenty of youthful spice in reserve. Cask #7403 yielded 239 bottles at a natural strength of 58.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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2018 Adelphi Lochlea 5 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lowlands, SCOTLAND
$219. 99
Bottle
$2639.88 Dozen

ABV: 59.2%

A name that will be new to most whisky lovers: Thirty minutes drive south from Glasgow, nestled in the heart of Ayrshire, Lochlea is an independent family-owned distillery - now a rare thing in the Scotch whisky industry. Producing since 2018, their approach is small-batch, innovative and flexible without the constraints of a large corporate structure. Barley is grown on the farm and an on-site water source is employed, so there's full traceability over production. Adelphi's selection was matured in a single first fill Bourbon barrel. 265 bottles are on offer at 59.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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2011 Adelphi Blair Athol 13 Year Old Whisky & Dreams Exclusive Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$199. 99
Bottle
$2399.88 Dozen

ABV: 55.5%

Located in Perthshire, on the road to the flock of distilleries that are located further north, Blair Athol was first brought to the attention of malt lovers via Diageo's Flora & Fauna series. Typically a gingery and nutty dram, this cask strength edition from Adelphi was presumably drawn from an x bourbon barrel and was originally an exclusive for "Whisky & Dreams" with an outturn of 251 bottles. 55.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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2008 Adelphi Glen Elgin 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$230. 00
Bottle
$2760.00 Dozen

ABV: 55.6%

It’s unlikely that Glen Elgin will become a major brand anytime soon, given how important it is to blenders. A combination of long, slow ferments, and distillation coupled with worm tubs yields a particularly fruity spirit. Adelphi have seasoned this selection in a refill oloroso sherry butt. The outturn was 487 bottles at 55.6% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
"We are in sherry territory. Has anyone noticed/felt that there are not as many around as there once were? One tires of ‘sherry bombs’ when the strong influence of previous contents overpowers, though this being Adelphi, there are also highly commendable attributes. Though perhaps not my preferred style these days, that doesn’t stop me from admiring this as objectively as I can. It’s a reminder that Adelphi knows how to select a cask. Just don’t expect much [if any] Elgin to come through." - whiskybase.com

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1992 Adelphi Longmorn 32 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$1699. 00
Bottle
$20388.00 Dozen

ABV: 49.9%

This Longmorn from a refill bourbon hogshead is the oldest bottling in the latest Adelphi range. An appropriate choice, perhaps, as the distillery celebrates its 130th anniversary in 2024. It's also making a comeback, with a new core of age statements including an 18 and a 22 year old. Long ageing has tipped this cask strength gem just under the 100 proof mark landing it at 49.9% Alc./Vol. 222 bottles are on offer. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... a sublime, alluring and complex character, with notes of lavender and violets, apricot, custard cream, tart grapefruit, key lime pie and macadamia nut... floral and fruity, but with a pleasant liqueur-like bitterness and appropriate heft.

Delivery Information
- 90
Aerstone Land Cask 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Highlands, SCOTLAND
$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Other reviews... This was launched as a ‘budget’ single malt for Tesco. It’s good that it would come with an age statement, but the ABV screams ‘cheapo’. It is, in fact, one of the several styles made at Ailsa Bay at Girvan. Let’s see… Colour: light gold. Nose: some farmy peat, a little mud, some grist and a touch of vanillin. Well, this baby does not tear you apart, that’s good. In a way. Mouth: extremely light, with some smoke, a touch of apple and lemon, notes of smoked ham, and perhaps a touch of iodine. There is something of the lightest Laphroaig 10s – not the current production mind you. Frustratingly light body. Finish: short, leaving a feeling of smoked water. Comments: peat is good but when there’s only peat (plus a little barley), that’s not quite enough. A little disappointing, typical 75-pointer in my book, hope they’ll also do a kind of high-proof version, without dropping the age statement. 75 points - whiskyfun.com

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Aerstone Sea Cask 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

SCOTLAND
$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

Other reviews... This should be Ailsa Bay as well, but not at the price of Ailsa Bay. What’s a sea cask by the way? Did they use floated wood? Stored this on an island? On some shore? Now let’s not forget one of the industry’s talking points, ‘Scotland is integrally coastal’. Aye aye. Colour: light gold. Nose: I like this better. It’s a fine, balanced, easy malt whisky, on barley, vanilla, bread and caraway/nutmeg. I always like it when it’s this close to bread and barley, even when it’s not complex. Mouth: yes, it’s pretty pleasant, what a shame that it hasn’t got much watts, and that it is dragging itself along with little enthusiasm. Wee touches of brine, that’s nice – is that the ‘sea’ part? Finish: short, but really okay as far as flavours are concerned. Comments: good potential here. 43% would really be welcome. 79 points - whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 89
- 87
- 94
- Nick's Import
AnCnoc 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 40%

"...so complex it is frightening…a more complete and confident Speyside malt you are unlikely to find." - Jim Murray
The AnCnoc label entered the scene in 1993 and is now flourishing with a range of expressions and age statements. The ‘flagship' 12-year-old is a sweet, floral, Summery whisky that's all about easy drinking. Made at the Knockdhu distillery (a major contributor to the Haig blends), five years after DCL closed the operation, it was acquired by Inver House Distillers Ltd who reopened it and created the AnCnoc brand to avoid confusion with fellow Speysider, 'Knockando'.
Knockdhu was founded in 1894 following the discovery of several springs of particularly pure water on the southern slopes of Knock Hill. When production first started, the distillery was a showpiece. Two pot stills could turn out 2500 gallons of spirit per week, motive power being supplied by a 16 horsepower steam engine. Cottages were built for the workers and their families, creating a new community around the distillery. Much has been done to modernise the buildings and machinery since, but very little has changed in the production process. Two originally designed pot stills remain, giving Knockdhu the same "fruity, citric and honeyed flavour" as was first described almost a century ago. Maturation includes both x Bourbon and sherry casks, and a substantial part of production continues to make its way into the Hankey Bannister blend which sells millions of bottles annually.
The twelve year old is a pale gold-coloured malt with aromas that caress the nose with the softest of whisky scents, almost floral, but there's also honey, toasty grains, plus some fruitiness (baked apple?) and possibly a whisper of peat, too. The palate concentration is good, with spices adding presence to the vanillas followed by a late juicy burst, fading dry and light with cocoa, gentle spices and understated orchard fruitiness. It's all very pretty, falling towards the elegant end of the Speyside spectrum. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… so complex it is frightening…a more complete and confident Speyside malt you are unlikely to find. Shimmers with everything that is great about Scotch Whisky… always a reliable dram, but this is stupendous. 94.5 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible
...The entry level anCnoc is aged principally in bourbon barrels, with a small element of sherry wood-matured spirit included in the mix. Floral and quite delicate on the nose, with barley, apples, and honey. Medium-bodied, smooth, and well-balanced, with more honey, apple, malt, vanilla, and cinnamon. The finish is relatively short, drying, and mildly oaky. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Colour: straw. Nose: I like this kind of fruitiness quite a lot. Imagine a good dose of stewed apples, topped with a honey and caramel sauce and touches of liquorice. Then it becomes more floral (dandelions) as well as obviously malty. A rather perfect all-rounder, as they say. Mouth: pretty much in line with the nose, with the same notes of apple pie, malt, barley sugar, light honey and liquorice (that gives it a faintly smoky/bitter profile). Caramel. Finish: medium, with more liquorice. Comments: it makes me think of some high-range blend. Easy and very good in my opinion. 84 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com

Delivery Information
- 94
- 97
Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Gift Pack with 2 Glasses

Islay, SCOTLAND
$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Get two Ardbeg-branded whisky tumblers in this limited gift pack presentation.
Perched on a rocky headland, the Ardbeg distillery was founded in 1815 by the MacDougalls of Ardbeg. The distillery's scattered white-washed buildings are reminiscent of a Dutch settlement and add to the dramatic coastal landscape. Ardbeg has had a chequered history and in recent times had been closed down for many years. Glenmorangie acquired Ardbeg in 1997 and has set about restoring the distillery to its former glory. Despite the turbulence of its past, none of Ardbeg’s qualities have been diminished. All of the time-worn traditions have been carefully preserved and passed on to today’s whisky makers. The Ardbeg 10 Year Old is clear testimony to this. In his 'Complete Book of Whisky' Jim Murray said of it: 'If perfection on the palate exists, this is it.'
Other reviews...n24 more complex, citrus-led and sophisticated than recent bottlings, though the peat is no less but now simply displayed in an even greater elegance; a beautiful sea salt strain to this; t24 gentle oils carry on them a lemon-lime edge, sweetened by barley and a weak solution of golden syrup; the peat is omnipotent, turning up in every crevice and wave, yet never once over-stepping its boundary; f24 stuuningly clean, the oak offers not a bitter trace but rather a vanilla and butterscotch edge to the barley. Again the smoke wafts around in a manner unique in the world of whisky when it comes to sheer elan and adroitness; b25 like when you usually come accross something that goes down so beautifully and with such a nimble touch and disallarming allure, just close your eyes and enjoy... 97 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013 / 2023
...Last time we tried our beloved Ten it was a circa 2015 bottling, and it was great (WF 89). Colour: white wine. Nose: I have the feeling that Ardbeg Ten got more crystalline, perhaps a tad simpler as well, and probably more distillate-driven than ever before. I’m so glad no obvious vanilla is dumbing it down, and of course no ‘wine’, so this is as bright as possible and full of lime, seawater, smoked salmon, and of these wee tarry/cardboardy touch that are so typically Ardbeg. Shall we call this nose ‘razory’? Mouth: lapsang souchong with lime, smoked almonds, kippers, plasticine, almond oil, whelks, brine, hessian… This is just perfectly perfect. Finish: rather long, smoky, almondy, lime-y, salty. Comments: the month is not over but Ardbeg 10 will possibly be March’s bang-for-your-buck bottling. Because in my little tasting book, Ardbeg 10 is simply back to… 90 points - whiskyfun.com
...the classic Ardbeg bottling, and one of the most heavily peated entry-level whiskies from all of Scotland. Ten years are just about right for taming Ardbeg’s fire, though the nose is still moderately heavy with straight, smoky peat notes, though also lightly briny but distinctly maritime in its tone. The body follows in lockstep, adding to the burning embers of driftwood notes of iodine, orange peel, coriander, and ginger. Beautifully balanced despite the heavy peat influence, it remains one of the most essential Islay whiskies — and an essential whisky that is required drinking for anyone who wants to form a base understanding of single malts. - drinkhacker.com
...Nose: Astoundingly smoky, yet delicate with subtle tarry notes behind. With water the smoke dies a little and raisin and caramelised apple notes emerge. Palate: An immediate waft of peat smoke. Full, robustly flavoured with turf and lapsang souchong tea. Finish: Salty, long and filled with fragrant peat reek. Comment: A punch in the chops from a stroppy Islay middleweight. Flavour-packed yet delicate. Rated: 9/10 - whiskymag.com
Cocktail: The Smoky Martini
This is an unusual combination that works surprisingly well. Some people use less peaty whiskies, however the true Smoky Martini requires the likes of Ardbeg or Laphroaig – Single Malts which lend their peaty, textured flavour to the creamy character of a good vodka.
Method: Rinse a chilled martini glass with Ardbeg Malt Whisky and pour out any extra. Shake 60ml of Premium Vodka in a shaker filled with large ice cubes and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon and orange twist.

Delivery Information
- 90
- Nick's Import
Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$169. 99
Bottle
$2039.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The third edition in the Smoketrails series comes matured in a marriage of bourbon casks and x-Cabernet sauvignon casks from the Napa Valley in Northern California. Wine plus peat can be a bit of a lottery. Here, the Cabernet is said to take second place to the distillery's typically heavy phenols, leaving trace notes of baked rye, rich espresso and cool menthol. Bottled in August 2024 at a strength of 46% in a one litre format. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Matured in bourbon barrels and cabernet sauvignon red wine casks, this is intensely peaty on first sniff, but it’s wonderfully aromatic peat fires, verging on bonfire smoke at times. Paired with this are aromas of plum, black olive tapenade, black truffle, and toasted sourdough. The palate mingles chocolate muffin, dried cranberry, spices, and peat smoke, with hints of menthol and eucalyptus stretching into the finish. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com
A fine dram, although ashiness is one of my least favourite elements of peated whisky, and the Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition has plenty of it. The wine influence is also not insignificant. All in all it is a minor miracle I scored it this high. - wordsofwhisky.com

Delivery Information
- 93
Ardbeg Anthology The Beithir’s Tale Very Rare 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The final release in the Ardbeg Anthology Collection involves the use of custom-made casks (a first for Ardbeg), air-dried in the USA rather than kiln-dried, and then subjected to heavy toasting and light charring before being seasoned for at least four years with bourbon. Master Blender, Gillian Macdonald states the intention was to create a smoother, creamier profile. Whiffs of earthy peat, iodine and kelp bring a fresh, sea-spray vibe to the nose leaving hints of smoked meats. Semi-sweet and savoury, the oils and phenols take charge on the palate, creaming-up with air contact; baked citrus flavours are followed by a grassy finish, trailing off with liquorice root, menthol tobacco ash and white pepper heat. The lingering salt'n'pepper aftertaste is a strong point. This invigorating style of Ardbeg reminds us of bourbon-casked Kilchoman. 46% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... The final chapter in the Ardbeg Anthology Collection has reared its smoky head. Introducing The Beithir’s Tale, a rare and elusive dram inspired by one of the most fearsome creatures ever said to stalk the Distillery’s shores. Aged for 15 years in special designer charred bourbon casks, these barrels have been air-seasoned, heavily toasted, and then lightly charred. This whisky is inspired by the tale of the Beithir* – a fearsome serpent that slithered into the Distillery (or so the story goes). Spotted among the barrels, it had three prized casks lodged in its belly. Charmed away by an enchanting melody piped from a chanter, the hypnotised beast fled into the Atlantic, leaving the barrels bobbing on the waves. This bold dram crackles with notes of peat smoke, treacle, coffee grits, citrus and spice. Long, meandering flavours of vanilla and smoked butter burst forth in a finish that slithers across the palate and sings to the senses.
Gold at both the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
Ardbeg Anamorphic Committee Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$299. 00
Bottle
$3588.00 Dozen

ABV: 48.2%

The point of difference in Ardbeg's latest Committee release sees the cask heads scored to expose more of the wood's surface area. The cask ends were heavily toasted using the distillery's 'high mocha' toasting process and the inside of the barrels were charred. The process is said to temper the briny overtones, ramp up hidden chocolaty sweetness and magnify sensations of mocha. Bottled non chill filtered at 48.2%. Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The story with Anamorphic revolves around barrel charring. After removing the heads of classic Ardbeg bourbon casks, they were scored deeply to expose more wood and then intensely charred before being filled. Jack Daniel’s did a similar trick with its Sinatra Select bottlings. Does Ardbeg need more wood on it? The nose of the non-age-stated whisky is every bit as dark and smoky as the classic Ardbegs you know and love, offering a bruising aroma of burnt end barbecue and dying beach bonfire embers. It’s a bit daunting at first, starting off as rather one-note until you let it settle down in glass, revealing more layers beyond pushy smoke. Let Anamorphic rest in glass for a while, lest you down sip after sip of charry, tarry peat, free of nuance. After 15 minutes or so, fruit becomes much more evident, with elements of banana and baked apples, then a significant chocolate quality, ringed with walnuts. There’s plenty of aggressive tar that lingers on the back end, but for many an Ardbeg fan, that’s just what the good doctor ordered. All told, Anamorphic doesn’t exactly shift expectations for the brand, but rather it doubles down on them. - drinkhacker.com
...This Ardbeg comes from ex-Bourbon casks with toasted heads, and the nose has touches of chili-infused chocolate, a hint of anise, and a slightly herbal character. The taste has notes of grilled citrus, chili powder, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, and a gentle peatiness. The finish is long with a gentle smokiness and touches of dark chocolate and soft spices. Excellent! (October, 2023) 95 points - whiskycast.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Earthy, dusty, and slightly biscuity on the nose, this is a most curious Ardbeg, almost from an alternative universe. The sooty/tarry notes are clear but restrained, and are balanced out by some silky vanilla. Water opens up a myriad of herbal and floral notes- smoked etiver root, aniseed, fennel, chrysanthemum and jasmine, to name but a few. Palate: The mouthfeel is peppery and warming, and precedes an explosion of fiery, spicy flavours – chili – flavoured chocolate, bitter sweet mocha, briar wood, birch tar, ground black pepper and smoked artichokes. The sooty/tarry notes build up to a crescendo of rich, smoky flavours, with an incredible, lingering aftertaste of charcoal bitter almonds and molasses.

Delivery Information
- 92
- Reduced
Ardbeg 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $299.00
$260. 00
Bottle
$3120.00 Dozen

ABV: 40%

The legend returns as a Committee exclusive.
First released in 1997, Ardbeg 17 became one of the first whiskies to hit the market when the distillery re-opened. Patchy production periods in the 1980s and 1990s meant that the requisite stocks were never going to last long, which included unpeated whiskies from the 1980s. Consequently, Ardbeg 17 was discontinued in 2004. Directors of Whisky Production, Bill Lumsden and Gillian MacDonald decided to re-launch the age statement in 2024, closely following the elements that made the original. With a lower ABV and chill filtration, this is considerably softer than Ardbeg's 5 or 10-year old expressions, heading towards the elegance of decades-old Jura. Like the last hours of a dying fire, it exhibits a dry, ashy character that slowly smoulders its way across the tongue, the classic distillery traits suggested in low key, from grilled pineapple, mezcal smoke, bitter dark chocolate and Perique tobacco, run through with a delicate oily quality that adds body and weight. Bottling at just 40% makes for a relatively sedate whisky, typical of well-aged Islay with little to no dilution required. Ardbeg completionists should find it a fascinating and rewarding experience.

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- 94
2000 Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 23 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1699. 00
Bottle
$20388.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

"A glitch in the Ardware" reads the inside of the futuristic presentation box. Welcome to the first in a new limited edition series, created during a milestone year at Ardbeg. Each one will represent a different side of the distillery with no two whiskies alike. ‘Y2K’ is pronounced ‘Year-Two-K’. While the year 2000 will be remembered by many for bootcut jeans, flip phones and the elusive millennium bug, it went down in Ardbeg history for very different reasons. Following decades of neglect, the Distillery had been saved from extinction by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 and meticulously restored. As the clock ticked over from 1999 to 2000, Ardbeg was returning to full production. And while the rest of the world partied, with many distilleries shut down in fear of computerised chaos, its dedicated stillmen stayed up all night to keep the spirit flowing.
Crafted with some of the very first spirit of the millennium, the inaugural edition in the Ardbeg Vintage Y2K series is unlike anything before. It was distilled in the historic still which served Ardbeg for 51 years, before being retired in 2001. And with an increased rigour applied to cask selection under the new ownership, the whisky was laid down in some of the finest bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks around. The result is a single malt jampacked with bright zesty notes and intensely sweet, sooty flavours – a smoky anomaly never to be repeated. Aromas of lemon balsam reminisce with linseed oil and heather honey, while soot and peppermint stir up memories of ground coffee and aniseed on the palate.
Says Dr Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller, "Ardbeg Vintage Y2K is a phenomenal souvenir of a pivotal year at Ardbeg. Crafted at the dawn of a new era in our historic still, this ultra-rare whisky has been stowed carefully at the Distillery ever since. Herbal, citrusy and sweet on the nose, before soot, peppermint and coffee explode on the palate, this retro collectors’ classic is pure Ardbeg nostalgia.”
Other reviews... Distilled in Ardbeg’s historic still that was retired in 2001 after 51 years of service, this vintage has a sweet and zesty nose with coal soot, honey-lemon lozenges, Peppermint Pattie, and traces of black licorice. Silky smooth on the tongue, with sweet vanilla, lemon, peppermint creams, doughnut custard, ashy peat smoke, and orange pith, with creamy coffee, aniseed, and vanilla on the finish. No water needed. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Notes from the producers... Colour: Pale amber. On the nose: Herbal, sweet and fragrant, with a distant, subtly fragrant smokiness. A closer look reveals tangy notes of lemon balm, linseed oil and candied walnuts. Theflavourintensifies with a splash ofwater, followed by notes of heather honey, creosote and some tarpaulin. On the palate: A tingling, sorbet-like structure, vibrating on the tongue. The initialflavouris intensely sweet, with a burst of aniseed, toffee, digestive biscuits, peppermint, menthol, tar and coffee grounds. Sooty and tarry flavours then develop. Finish: The long, lingering aftertaste reveals notes of antiseptic lozenges, bitter orange peel andoaktannins.

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1998 Ardbeg Single Cask No.1275 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1999. 00
Bottle
$23988.00 Dozen

ABV: 55.4%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured. This one, in particular, has some impact crumpling to the front, bottom edge. See picture.
A single cask selection from a from first fill bourbon barrel, cask #1275 was limited to just 252 bottles. 55.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.
Other reviews... Colour: white wine. Nose: punchy, starting in an unusual way, on hints of green olive and even capers on top of a peatiness that isn’t huge but certainly bigger than the SMWS’. The rest is rather classic young Ardbeg, without any big bourbonny notes. Seawater, peat smoke, kippers and freshly cut apples. With water: more of the same, with an emphasis on the coastal notes and a little mint kicking in. Mouth (neat): powerful and very, very ‘Ardbeg’. Ashes, liquorice, smoked salmon, pepper, ‘raw’ peat, tar, green apples and a little salt. Not really complex but impressively punchy if you like them young. With water: clean, classic young Ardbeg, on apples, peat, pepper, marzipan, gentian and seashells. Finish: quite long, with quite some saltiness and notes of walnut skin as well as a little eucalyptus and lemon balm. Faint earthiness. Note that the finish is more pleasant when undiluted. Comments: very ‘young Ardbeg’, that is to say quite simple but very satisfying. I guess a good way of coming up with more complexity would be to marry various kinds of casks, including sherry. Hey, you could even call that Rollercoaster. 85 points - whiskyfun.com

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2011 Ardbeg Single Cask No.2198 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$1999. 00
Bottle
$23988.00 Dozen

ABV: 60.2%

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Single cask Ardbegs offer amplified distillery character. They're highly desirable but rarely surface. This particular release was distilled in August 2011 and left to age in a first-fill bourbon barrel for six years before bottling at cask strength in July 2018 with an outturn of 256 bottles. 60.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.

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Ardbeg Anthology The Harpy's Tale Very Rare 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

The inaugural release in Ardbeg's new series.
Noteworthy as a more affordable Ardbeg and with a proper age statement, the Harpy's Tale is the first whisky in the distillery’s new Anthology collection that focuses on unusual maturation styles. For this edition, it's a smoky-sweet hybrid marrying single malts matured in Sauternes wine casks with Ardbeg aged in x-bourbon wood. Sauternes casks are not common on Islay, though they have been used by Kilchoman and Bunnahabhain, amongst others. Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said, “We have embarked on a bold maturation experiment to fuse Ardbeg’s signature smokiness with more nuanced, sweeter notes for our new release... This is a dram that represents a battle between sweet and smoke – one I believe fans are yet to experience in an Ardbeg dram, and one that I’m sure they will be excited to taste for themselves. Collectively, the whiskies in the Anthology Collection will form a legendary, perfectly balanced and delicious series of rare and unusual Ardbegs, rich in both lore and taste. We look forward to revealing more in the Collection in the near future.”
The naming pays homage to the mixing of styles; in Greek and Roman mythology a harpy is half-human, half-bird. Ardbeg's marketing team have done another nice job extending the theme to the packaging with a striking design. 46% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... With The Harpy’s Tale, Ardbeg has crafted another winner, though — huge caveat — fans of heavier, peat-forward Ardbeg whiskies will not likely be pleased. The nose isn’t immediately distinct, offering a fairly traditional chimney soot profile with quite a slug of camphor in the mix. While lightly minty, with some barrel char notes showing, there’s no evidence of the Sauternes cask on the nose, which is a slight letdown. That changes on the palate. Here, the whisky immediately showcases a much softer side, with notes of green table grapes, coconut water, and lemon curd — all informed by a rather gentle layer of smoke. Notes of grapefruit peel lead into an increasingly bright finish that evokes the honeyed, apricot-laced quality endemic to Sauternes. Mildly sweet but not overblown, there’s a suggestion of chocolate and even a touch of coffee bean on the finish, making for a complex but completely effusive and enjoyable experience. Definitely a whisky I’d love to explore in more depth. - drinkhacker.com
"On the nose, find earthy smoke, brine, salt spray, and iodine, backed by toffee chews. The palate moves into a sweeter and fruitier direction, with dark chocolate covered raspberries, strawberry Jolly Ranchers, honey, and treacle. The finish is short, and offers molasses, furniture polish, peppermint, peat, prunes, allspice, and oak." 89 points - distiller.com
Notes from the producers... Smoked lemon peel soars alongside balsamic vinegar, before fresh apricots roll and bank into notes of tarry rope. First imagined only as a flight of fantasy, this is a spirit that achieves the ultimate equilibrium between sweetness and smoke. A rare beast Ardbeg indeed…

Delivery Information
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml) with Free Ardbeg T-shirt

Islay, SCOTLAND
Reduced from $310.00
$249. 99
Bottle
$2999.88 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Get a FREE Ardbeg t-shirt with every order containing a Smoketrails purchase. Maximum one t-shirt per order.*
The first edition in Ardbeg’s inaugural travel retail series. One litre, 46% NCF.
'Smoketrails' is the name for Ardbeg's new and first-ever collection of single malts exclusively dedicated to the travel market. Launched in late 2022 with annual batches in the pipeline, each edition will be a marriage of Ardbeg aged in American oak with Ardbeg matured in secondary casks sourced from around the world. This is the first edition, employing Manzanilla (dry) Sherry casks from Sanlúcar de Barrameda on Spain’s Atlantic coast. Light and fresh in style, Manzanilla sherries are aged close to the sea and are typically bone dry with a salty tang - well matched to Ardbeg's island profile.
Distillery Manager, Colin Gordon says, “For each Smoketrails release we’ll pack our suitcase and zig zag across the globe in search of new flavour adventures...With a unique batch code on this and future bottlings, we hope Ardbeggians will jump at the chance to get their hands on this delectable, collectable dram when they are on their travels.”
Ardbeg’s Master Distiller, Dr Bill Lumsden adds “In Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition, salty sea spray and deep, nutty notes mingle with pungent aromas of soot, dark chocolate and Brazil nuts. Clouds of pine and fennel fill the senses with notes of saddle soap and aniseed trailing gently behind. All I have to say to anybody who lays their hands on a bottle is… get ready for a smoky blast!” Available at selected airports around the globe, we've sourced a small parcel for Australian devotees who might otherwise miss out. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I've just seen that this one is still available in travel retail, for a price that's much lower than in regular shops. They were having dozens at Basel airport just last week, for example. It is a vatting of ex-American oak (Heaven Hill?) and ex-manzanilla casks. I remember some superb ex-fino Ardbeg around Feis 2005, but I'm not sure we've already tried some ex-manzanilla 'beg. But was Dr Bill's idea to add saltiness to saltiness? Let's see, while it's mentioned on the label that it should display some 'saddle soap'… Remember horses are another specialty of Jerez… Colour: straw. Nose: frankly, the territory of an (unsherried, ha) Ardbeg and that of some manzanilla are so close to each other that I'm finding this nose particularly tautological. Fresh walnuts shouting out, green apples and lemons, some chalk, a touch of mustard, sea spray, fresh almonds and chalk, then only a wee touch of mutton suet or something like that. Having said all that and while it's classic Ardbeg in my book, it is not really 'big'. Mouth: perhaps a little too much grittiness, fresh oak at first, making it bitterish (bell pepper, walnut skin), but also loads of salt, as expected. It feels young for sure. Cold ashes, lemon skin, tart cider apples, lemon jellybeans… I find it relatively simple, but Ardbeggy enough. Finish: rather long, still salty. Or, let's say it triggers a lot of saltiness. Walnuts and mustard in the aftertaste. Comments: now, what to do with a litre of this, if you've also got a bottle of the superior Ten in your cabinet? And I'm afraid I couldn't recognise any notes of saddle soap, but that is me. Don't get me wrong, it's some very good Ardbeg that we could quaff with langoustines on the shore of the Guadalquivir, in Sanlucar. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Lemon peel. Gentle smoke, not too peaty, more bonfire than medical. Some fruity notes. Taste: Sweet, toffee notes, milk chocolate, then the citric notes from the nose are coming back. Smoke is rather gentle. Finish: Long. Now reconcilable peaty, yet sweet.
*Please request your preferred t-shirt size in the Special Instructions field of the checkout. T-shirt sizes are subject to availability and we cannot guarantee we will have your size. If no t-shirt size is requested it will be selected at random.

Delivery Information
- 90
- Not gift boxed
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$250. 00
Bottle
$3000.00 Dozen

ABV: 46%

Ardbeg's latest annual offering comes with a curious title that's due to a production modification. Head of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden removed the purifier, which typically catches the heaviest vapours from the distillation process. The purifier is also responsible for Ardbeg’s balance between extreme peat and floral fruitiness. The resulting whisky is "all peat". In fact, Ardbeg says that it's their most full-blown expression ever with an intensity of flavour that's unmatched. A spokesperson for the brand describes the flavour profile as, "Defined by a distinctive pungent earthiness, aromatic clouds of dark chocolate, a billow of aniseed and cinnamon, and a lingering tang of sharp peppermint." Dramface.com add "According to an interview Lumsden participated in for WhiskyCast, the experiment which gave birth to this year’s release was conducted 12 years ago. Even allowing for time of year and the time taken to dump casks, blend, package and distribute, it’s safe to assume this bottling is at least 11 years old, given that Lumsden claims the experiment was only ever conducted in one batch." We've just received our allocation. The whisky's unusual conception is brought to life with accompanying graphics created by celebrated comic artist and illustrator, Dilraj Mann.
The nose is slightly reticent while the flavour profile leans towards smokey dark chocolate, oily malt, chimney soot and white pepper followed by a dried herbal quality. The aftertaste is ashy, drying, medium long and vaguely fruity in a mezcal kind of way. Like last year's Ardbeg Day release (Ardcore), Heavy Vapours is not quite as intense or complex as anticipated, although it does taste slightly more mature and feels like the texture is amplified, particularly at the finish where cured meats and a salt'n'pepper tang recall middle-weight Caol Ilas. In a word, more elegant than "extreme". 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I don’t know enough about the role of the purifier in distillation to predict for myself how the lack of one might impact a finished whisky, but damn if I’m not willing to give it a try. So let’s sally forth. Reviewed here is the standard release at 92 proof. The Committee Release is bottled at 100.4 proof. Extremely light in color, even for Ardbeg, the whisky looks innocuous enough in the glass. The classic aroma of beach bonfire smoke of Ardbeg wafts immediately from the glass, tempered by light touches of milk chocolate, overripe fruit, and some salted caramel — though these are all difficult to parse in the wake of a moderately intense blast of peat. The palate does see a more complex complement of flavors coming into focus, including mint, a clearer tropical note — pineapples and some coconut — with plenty of ashy dustiness waiting in the wings. Strangely, all of this works together in a bizarrely compelling fashion, the peat becoming earthy and smoldering, any overt smokiness taking a back seat as fruity sweetness makes a stronger impact. A briny quality offers a surprising level of refreshment on the finish, pairing well with both fruit and lingering smokiness. For my money, this is considerably more classically balanced than the standard Ardbeg bottlings — though what exactly is meant by “balance” in the world of peated Scotch is open for interpretation. All told, this is a decidedly delicious representation of Ardbeg. I say take that purifier and throw it out, Bill! - drinkhacker.com
...More NAS and more stories. I mean, really, stories, about that purifier we keep mentioning here too, and a certain 'agent 46'.. There's a QR code on the presentation box and bottle that should have allowed us to follow that 'agent 46' but from France it seems that we're just led to the generic Ardbeg website. Anyway, this is young Ardbeg that's been distilled 'without' the purifier on, as many batches have in the past already, but this very one is supposed to be 'the most full-blown Ardbeg ever'. Let's check that now… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: very pure and feeling ultra-young, totally on mash, smoked beer, green pears, stewed turnip, creosote, petrichor and our new favourite since we've tried some in the Schwarzwald only two days ago, topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke) eau-de-vie or Schnaps, which is very rooty and earthy indeed. Mouth: excellent, if a tad rough and probably immature. More Jerusalem artichoke and turnip, smoky mashes and washes, a feinty side indeed and then certainly more fruitiness (so much for the purifier been shunted). Apples, lemon liqueur, light honey (acacia), liquorice allsorts and a drop of pastis. A moderate saltiness and notes of sweet beetroot too. Finish: pretty longer, fruity and salty. Comments: did they not just invent peated pastis? As a matter of fact, it would take a lot of water with resolve and even desire (what?) but it's not really heavy, I'd have called it 'Mizuwari Reserve' or 'Islay Pastis' instead. Do the advertising agencies taste the products? 88 points - whiskyfun.com

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Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Committee Release Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$299. 00
Bottle
$3588.00 Dozen

ABV: 50.2%

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

Ardbeg's latest Committee Release comes with a curious title that's due to a production modification. Head of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden removed the purifier, which typically catches the heaviest vapours from the distillation process. The resulting whisky is "all peat". In fact, Ardbeg says that it's their most full-blown expression ever with an intensity of flavour that's unmatched. Dramface.com add: "According to an interview Lumsden participated in for WhiskyCast, the experiment which gave birth to this year’s release was conducted 12 years ago. Even allowing for time of year and the time taken to dump casks, blend, package and distribute, it’s safe to assume this bottling is at least 11 years old, given that Lumsden claims the experiment was only ever conducted in one batch." Normally exclusively available to Ardbeg Committee members, we've just received our allocation. As opposed to the general release lower proof bottling, this edition lands at 50.2% Alc./Vol. Ardbeg completionists and collectors will be keen to get their hands on one of each. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... AROMA: Intense, pungent & aromatic, with a distinctive farmyard aroma, along with a crunchy aroma, like creosote or tarry rope. The smoke is all dominating, but has a slightly sweet edge to it, almost like dark chocolate. A splash of water opens the bouquet, with some dark chocolate cream, and a hint of smoked artichoke. TASTE: The mouthfeel is spicy/warming, with an initial burst of bittersweet flavours –coal dust, cardamon, peppermint, eucalyptus, and more dark chocolate with some coffee grits. In the background there are some old-fashioned boiled sweets, like aniseed twists, cinnamon balls, and antiseptic lozenges. FINISH: The aftertaste lingers long and bold with an ongoing, almost anaesthetising sensation.

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Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 4

Islay, SCOTLAND
$499. 00
Bottle
$5988.00 Dozen

ABV: 46.2%

Released in early 2022 but only recently landed in Australia, the highly allocated Traigh Bhan Batch TB/04-07.03.2003/22.CG continues a running theme, with a lengthy maturation in a combination of American oak and oloroso sherry casks - although the proportion of the latter is slightly increased in this edition. Bottled in much smaller quantities than the rest of the core range "under a full moon", as noted on the front label, it arrives non chill filtered at 46.2% Alc./Vol.
Traigh Bhan is now firmly in collector-land. Consequently, few tasting notes are available. If you're looking to add to your collection or just want to find out what well-aged Ardbeg tastes like, don't hesitate on this offer. For those new to the label, the name is a reference to the local Traigh Bhan beach on Islay, which is known as the 'Singing Sands'. Each batch is intended to be slightly different from the last due to minor changes in cask selection. Expect rich wood smoke and menthol alongside bolder flavours of cayenne pepper and aniseed.
Notes from the producers... NOSE: On the nose, rising aromas of herbal pine and fennel flow into sharp notes of citrusy lime sorbet and medicinal lozenge, while eucalyptus and saddle soap follow on the breeze. A splash of water releases a cascade of hazelnut, sweet vanilla, and currants, before rich minted chocolate brings the nose to a close. TASTE: An intense wave of wood smoke crashes over the palate, leaving ripples of decadent dark chocolate and ground coffee in its wake. Sweeter notes of lemon curd and peanut brittle cut through the swell to reveal delicate hints of creamy raisin fudge and hazelnut. The allure of this rare dram continues with suggestions of more medicinal, spicy notes. Menthol, fresh lemongrass, aniseed, clove and white pepper emerge from rich, smoky depths. FINISH: Sweet and peat collide with creamy vanilla fudge, dark cocoa powder, and a warm, woody clove tingle. A sharp, intense, and satisfyingly long finish.

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Whisky and Scotland inseparably intertwined.

Made from the most elemental of ingredients, water and 100% malted barley, Single Malt Whisky has become inextricably woven into the fabric of Scotland's history, culture and customs. Indeed, there are few drinks which are so closely related to the land of their birth than Scotch (even though most distilleries nowadays are not actually owned by the Scots.)

Malt Whiskies, which differ considerably in flavour according to the distillery and region from which they come, tend to have a more pronounced bouquet and flavour than grain-heavy blended whiskies. By definition, malt whiskies are also single distillery, made by the one distiller in the one location. They offer something blends generally don't: a sense of time and place that translates into a one-of-a-kind flavour sensation influenced by the water source, the shape and size of the stills, the type of cask, age and the degree of peating. If you're new to whisky, it's worth reading our Scotch Whisky primer here.

How Single Malt Scotch suddenly became so popular...

90% of the single malt Scotch produced continues to be used to make blended whisky, and the proportion was once much higher than that. Glenfiddich's famous 'Special Reserve Pure Malt' was the whisky that introduced and popularised the bottling of Single Malts to the world. Glen Grant, Macallan and others followed suit and in the 1980s malts started to gain a reputation as a 'more authentic' product than blends. At the same time, the popularity of vodka and other spirits began threatening the market share. In response, blenders dropped their prices. Unfortunately, consumer's perceptions of blended whisky were also lowered. A sense of snobbery developed against the 'cheap' and 'inferior' blends. Unjustified as this was (and remains), it was a sequence of events that helped prepare the way for the current Single Malt boom. So successful has the rise of Single malt been that the industry has found itself in a position of deficit. Older malts are becoming increasingly rare and pricey, partly accounting for the present trend of N.A.S. ('No Age Statement') bottlings and limited edition collector releases.

Shop Australia's biggest range of Single Malt Scotch, with many of the best prices too...

Nicks Wine Merchants boast the largest range of Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the Southern Hemisphere - shipped almost any where in Australia. Everything from luxury big name brands, to unusual independent bottlings, cask strength and single barrel releases and limited editions. Subscribe to our Spirits and Liqueurs Email Newsletter to keep up to date with new arrivals, whisky tastings, special offers and more.

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