Sounds like Whisky Heaven.

August 31st to September 2nd, on scenic Inveraray Castle grounds there will be more bands than I can be bothered to count and more drams than may be considered ‘moderation’.

A three day music festival for grown-ups featuring the slightly-greying likes of The Beastie Boys, Primal Scream, Jesus and Mary Chain and Bjork (bonkers we know, but a wacko stage show) and my post-punk favourites – The Only Ones (another day another planet).

Who's playing? ConnectMusicFestival.com

Who’s serving at The Loch Fyne Whisky Bar? We are! And a dozen or so other producers will be offering their slow-distilled wares and knowledge in a feast of great music, great food (Loch Fyne Oysters anyone?) and other more obscure entertainments (some quite dark)...

Plans are advanced for an impressive Heilan’ Whisky Chill-out... Watch this space for our news of who’s is taking part from the whisky world and ConnectMusicFestival.com for new acts to entertain you (and buy tickets).

Despite my less than kind comments on the first release of Ballechin we have sold a very significant amount on the basis of a taste here in the shop, the new variant is more peaty and softer so I suspect it will be another flyer.

The second limited (6,000) release of Edradour’s heavily peated variant, this time entirely matured in a Maderia cask presumably for 5 years (don’t let the age put you off).

The first edition has been very well received on tasting and this has more of what the first had.

More peat, more complexity and more sweetness, a huge mouthfeel.

Those who appreciated the younger Ardbegs will be impressed.

A very limited edition of this cask strength Old Pulteney 1991 - only 180 bottles available in the UK and we've already opened 1 of them!

'This single cask exudes a warm, golden glow. The bouquet is floral, balancing fruit flavours with a slightly leathery note. It is a full bodied, smooth malt whisky with a long lasting finish.'

Our regularly updated best selling whiskies. This week the brand new vintage Springbank has flown off the shelves:

1: Loch Fyne Blend - our own award winning whisky.
2: Loch Fyne Liqueur - chocolate, tangerines, oranges and whisky!
3: Springbank 1997 - the new vintage is an ace!
4: Bruichladdich Infinity II - a peaty Laddie ACE'd in Rioja casks.
5: Glengoyne 17yo - perfect for those who aren't keen on smoky whiskies.
6: Glencadam 15yo - can't get enough of this incredibly fruity whisky.
7: Old Ballantruan - the peated whisky from Tomintoul.
8: Glenfarclas 15yo - nutty, slightly peaty, very complex - another ace!
9: Bunnahabhain 9yo - A heavily peated Bunny from Signatory
10: Tobermory 10yo - another unpeated malt.

Based on sales through LFW.CO.UK and our whisky shop in Inveraray.

Just in the door is the brand new release from Springbank - a vintage 1997.

Stuart Robertson and Frank McHardy have combined their many years of whisky making experience, and their noses, to selected the casks for the first release of the new Springbank Vintage.

Batch 1 has been exclusively matured in Re-charred Sherry Butts for 10 years and is limited to 11000 bottles.

A glass brimful of aroma, briny and slightly musty - that reminds me of the 1919 - and an oily lemon note.

On the tongue, even neat it is soft and easy drinking, well balanced with a long finish, well done Frank!

An ace, long time since we've had one of them.

This is the new 100% ex-Sherry cask matured 30 year old Macallan and is now available and in stock..

We're expecting a few new releases this week including Springbank, Dalmore, Jura and a few from Whyte & Mackay so keep an eye out for them.

A few new additions today:

The first two from a new publishing venture Classic Expressions specialising in facsimile reproductions of primarily whisky books: Smuggling in the Highlands by MacDonald from 1914 and Reminiscences of a Gauger by Pacy from 1873.

A new product on the market: Valt - a five times distilled 100% malted barley Vodka made at Speyside Distillery.

New miniature: Bruichladdich Waves 7yo 5cl