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Kilchoman 3yo Summer 2010 Release 46%abv

They've done it again; I'm beginning to wonder if whisky making is actually quite easy. Scotch's newcomer has bottled another toddler with all the maturity of a post-acne, stubble-sprouting teenager. This 'Summer 2010 Release' has been matured in fresh bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace for 3 years.

In keeping with previous releases, this one is primarily peaty and now with a neat aroma of tropical fruits. It's quiet with no spirit or greenish notes that you'd expect from a spirit that is coming to terms with matriculation to 'Scotch Whisky'. There’s lots of matchboxy stuff going on too - in the mouth it's hot, like a glowing peat fire. Water emphasises the sweetness and the matchbox becomes cordite.

A perfectly balanced, bourbon-wood matured, peaty & sweet single malt, yet youthful. Ace for peat fans.

On the Flavour map I have it in square D9
On the smoky side of Light and Smoky (and towards Complex).

Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release 3 year old
Barcode: 5060210700072

Price excluding VAT: £38.21
£44.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Arran OB Bourbon Cask 41 1999 10yo 57.1%alc. [LFW]

Distilled: 19.7.99

Bottled: 6.7.10

Cask # 41 limited to 219 bottles and so only 2 bottles per person...

Since we started in 1993 we have never entertained the idea of an ‘exclusive’ bottling – what’s the point? Here is the exception, our first exclusive - and we are very happy with it.

During the selection process for the “Oran Mor” (below) I reckoned this bourbon cask was exceptional; however all (bar one) of the other numpties present did not agree. So the nice Arran people said I should take the sample back to base and consider having it done for us.

Once in Inveraray we all tried it and, unusually for our diverse palettes, we all rated this as exceptional and agreed this would be our exclusive… Only 219 bottles this time.

A big bourbon-wood aroma, there is so much going on but here’s a start; lemon flower honey, brown sugar, geraniums, white toast and the Arran digestives. In the mouth it’s round and plump, liquid crème caramel, sumptuous.

Water releases floral characters and dried fruit and scent and pine and esters notes… The list goes on. Both complex and satisfying and an absolute ace, and so say all of us...

On the Flavour Map it’s about square D4
Complex, Light & Delicate

Arran Cask 41
Barcode: 5060044481161

Price excluding VAT: £41.62
£48.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Springbank Madeira Wood OB 11yo 55.1%alc. Bottling of the Year 2010

Distilled June 1997, Bottled January 2009, limited to 9090 bottles.

Initially a sherried nose, then the Madeira cuts in giving caramel-sweetness, mustiness and spice.

Explosive on the tongue, floral-vegetative (greenhouses) and a little smoke. Some of that sulphur-tobacco notes that European oak is expressing at the moment. Vigerous, mouth challenging and enjoyable for a much cask influenced Whisky.

Water gives more Madeira and greener veg initially, then settles to an enjoyable and mouth filling dram. Recommended.

Flavour Map Ref: I4
Rich / Delicate

Springbank Madeira Wood 11 year old
Barcode: 610854417000
Details of our Bottling of the Year award here...

Price excluding VAT: £33.11
£38.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

The Macphunn 18yo 57% November 2009

Bottled November 2009

This fourth cask (dated November 2009) of a single sherry-matured Speysider at cask strength bottled for Sir Charles Maclean of Strachur, Loch Fyne.

As a counter to the last bottling which was as black as black is, this one glows from within like amber - the stone rather than amber the colour, a real shine!

Another big sherry-wood dram, but not over the top, so you can speculate that it's from American oak rather than European, I've no idea, but that seems a good, pointless discussion to start with, this is going to be a long and enjoyable evening...

Macphunn 'November 2009' (as described on the label to distinguish it from previous bottlings) is a single sherry butt with a whopping yield of 610 bottles. Inside there is golden syrup to begin with... A nice intro then the real drama starts with a tannic note that twists into an increasingly sherry-sulphury crescendo that never seems to level off - or end - until the swallow when the match-heads peak and the tongue is left as a well-sprung dance-floor for Indiana Jones to fandango! There is a smoky residue that fades with the credits.

Another boffo Macphunn, I'm taking one to share with my chums this evening, let speculation begin! I don't want to call all Macphunns 'ace' because it questions the accolade, but it's definitely boffo.

Added to LFW.CO.UK 9-December-09
Fascinating story here...

Price excluding VAT: £59.49
£69.90 Including VAT at 17.5%

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Tomintoul OB 16yo 40%alc. LFW Bottling of the Year 2006

Every year the team at Loch Fyne Whiskies discuss which whisky has fared the best when offering tastes to our customers in the shop, an easy sale on quality and value and a little unusual too.

Our customer's choice for this year is a single malt that describes itself on the label as "the gentle dram".

A Speyside whisky that has been largely ignored as a single malt, the new owners are now determined that this whisky be recognised for it's quality.

At 16 years it is sublime.

Tomintoul 16 has a soft sherry-sweetness about the nose, (fino sherry La Ina), some oak, black pepper, hardboard sawdust and speyside fruitiness. On the tongue it is soft, gentle (like it says) perfectly balanced with a fruity-spicy swallow. Best without water.

On the Malt Whisky Flavour Map we reckon this belongs in square: H4
Complex / Rich

[Blind tasting note from RJ during the SFWC:

SCORE: 4/5

A rich and pleasing nose of bananas, esters, beer and ‘Bazooka Joes’. Chocolate, coffee, cocoa and soft estery flavours - short but juicy. Nice smoky finish. A highly rewarding dram.]

Tomintoul 16 year old
Barcode: 5021349700029

Price excluding VAT: £25.11
£29.50 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity: