This heavily peated Islay single malt whisky combines a respect for the Islay island with contemporary practices. Using only Islay-grown barley, this expression has a complex maturation process. The spirit firstly spends seven years in ex-American whiskey barrels, before then being finished in French wine casks, and then being married back together for bottling. This gives is a complex layering of delicate flavours. Using Islay spring water in its bottling, it is free from chill filtration and is colouring free.

It has a colouring of pale gorse flowers and has a strength of 50% abv. The aromas that arrive at the nose are those of red berry fruits and floral notes which follow on the palate. These are joined by toasted oak notes and hints of coffee and chocolate, before leading to a dramatic smoky finish. A top-drawer dram from Bruichladdich.

This expression from Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte range is the first UK release in the Cask Exploration Series. Distilled in 2010 from barley peated to 40ppm, this single malt has been matured in a 50/50 split of first-fill American whiskey barrels and second-fill French wine barriques before being married together for one year in high provenance MR casks from the Bordeaux left bank.

The nose has powerful peat smoke with summer fruits and vanilla. The palate brings more peat and sweet fruits with toasted oak, maple syrup and chocolate coated coffee emerging, before a medicinal smoke in the finish with drying oak and creamy vanilla.

‘Heavily peated, this is a cuvee crafted from casks hand-picked by Master Distiller Jim McEwan to showcase the supreme elegance of the Port Charlotte spirit. This whisky is testament to the Distiller’s belief that raw ingredients matter. Distilled from 100% Scottish Barley, it gently matures in the Lochside village of Port Charlotte before being bottled at the distillery using Islay spring water.’

Heavily peated, this is a cuvee crafted from casks hand-picked by Master Distiller Jim McEwan to showcase the supreme elegance of the Port Charlotte spirit. This whisky is testament to the Distiller’s belief that raw ingredients matter. Distilled from 100% Scottish Barley, it gently matures in the Lochside village of Port Charlotte before being bottled at the distillery using Islay spring water.

Part of the Diageo Special Releases Collection 2014.

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt from Port Ellen, a closed distillery on the Isle of Islay. One of the most rare and highly sought after malts, this is the fourteenth of a limited series of annual releases and is the oldest release of Port Ellen ever to come from the original distillers. Annual allocation ensures availability of this irreplaceable malt for just a little longer.

Distilled in 1978 and matured in refill European Oak and refill American Oak casks, only 2,964 individually numbered bottles were produced .

The colour of Golden Syrup, it has a mild aroma, with a coal bunker in the background, and a fugitive scent of custard. Dry and mineralic overall, but with sweet scents of flower honey and candlewax. Any smoky aromas soon fade. The taste is rich, savoury and sophisticated, with clean smoke and hessian in the finish, then a cooling taste of clove.

Part of the Diageo Special Releases 2016 collection, this limited edition Islay Single Malt is the oldest ever release from the now closed Port Ellen distillery. Distilled in 1978 and matured in refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts, only 2,940 individually numbered bottles are available worldwide.The nose opens with a faint smoke growing sweet with hessian and warm wood, before honey-cured smoked meats, sweet mint and sharp citrus emerge, eventually becoming dark cocoa, vanilla and more wood smoke. The palate offers a mix of wood ash, jam tarts, treacle toffee and caramelised orange with an all pervading smoke. The finish is long and cooling with toffee apple and wood smoke aspects.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was a French novelist, poet and dramatist, whose works portray the turbulence of 19th century France. Most remembered for ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and ‘Les Miserables’, Hugo’s support for the Republican movement led to his involvement in politics, eventually being elected a senator in 1876.

Somewhat of a ‘mystery malt’, this independently bottled Speyside single malt does not have the origin of distillation on the label; there are some clues to be found as to where that might be though… Distilled in 1982 and bottled 39 years later in 2021 for The Whisky Shop by Gleann Mór, this a stunning addition to their Rare Find series. Just 180 bottles were produced at 48.7% ABV, with natural colour and free from chill filtration.

The nose opens to reveal dried mango and angelica root, with sticky dundee marmalade and a hint of furniture polish. The palate is creamy and sweet followed by a long herbal finish with notes of milk chocolate.