Latest Arrivals: new arrivals in our whisky shop

A single cask bottling of 638 bottles, distilled in 1984 and re-racked from bourbon casks to a sherry cask in 1998, bottled in May.

It’s no secret we love special Ben Nevis bottlings, great presentation and a very fair price. Cask No. 98/35/13 continues this tradition with an interesting variant on the last.

This dram is big, my notes say “many things”, referring to the myriad of sherry-wood characters; oak, bitterness, woodiness, smouldering matches. Big sherry-wood notes, bananas, ash, greenhouses (geraniums). Well balanced with a coffee, earthy & oranges finish.

Overall it’s a little clumsy but a sherry-fan’s ace.

Square J7 on the Flavour Map
On the Rich side of Rich and Smoky

Cask # 98/35/13

Distilled 20 December 1984 and put in Bourbon barrels

Transferred to Sherry butts 14 October 1998

Bottled May 2010

Limited to 638 bottles having spent almost 14 years in fresh Bourbon casks and then the remainder in fresh Sherry butts.

Added to LFW.CO.UK 21-July-10

Price excluding VAT: £76.17
£89.50 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:

Arran OB Sherry Cask 513 1998 12yo 56.4%alc. [Oran Mor]

Distilled: 20.4.98

Bottled: 3.7.10

Cask # 513 limited to 326 bottles

Known here as Arran “Oran Mor” after the Glasgow pub where a bunch of notorious drunks were assembled under Arran’s tutelage. By some bizarre and no doubt illegal voting system we ‘chose’ this as their next single cask bottling… However check the “Arran LFW” bottling (above) for something really worthwhile.

This sherry cask (of 326 bottles) exhibits the winey characters of a single malt. The aroma is vibrant, quite bitter which comes as a vinegar-Sauternes note and some nuts. To taste there is a fizz of butterscotch, an oaky-oiliness and some mint.

Water reveals dark, bitter chocolate and the signature Arran digestive biscuits come through at last. Good sherry-style malt.

On the Flavour Map, plonk it about square E3
Complex & Delicate

Arran Cask 513
Barcode: 5060044481147

Price excluding VAT: £38.72
£45.50 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Stronachie 18yo 46%alc.

“Stronachie” has at last removed the smoke of the identity of their whisky and now the label confesses to being from Benrinnes Distillery, superb!

I’m already a great fan of their sherry style 12yo and now love their new 18yo. Hewn from a mix of bourbon and sherry casks (6:2 by cask/butt, about half-and-half by volume) this ‘first batch’ is absolutely delightful.

About the nose there are bubbling sherry notes, soft and honeyed (and a little brackish), certainly very inviting. On the palate the soft, pleasing character is reinforced, with floral, slight European oak and no sulphur. A good swallow and pleasingly persistent finish.

An excellent single malt, great value and an ace.

On the flavour map? Square H2
on the delicate side of Rich / Delicate.

Stronachie 18 year old
Barcode: 5060056920511

Price excluding VAT: £31.06
£36.50 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Glenfiddich OB 30yo 43%alc. [wooden box]

Official Notes:

Matured in oak casks for at least 30 years, it has been nosed and tasted at least five times over this period by David Stewart (Malt Master when it was laid down) & Brian Kinsman the Glenfiddich Malt Master appointed in November 2009.

For the first time Glenfiddich 30yo will bear an individual bottle number and batch number. The bottle comes in a thick based bottle, sealed with a wax security tag & embossed with a brass coloured badge. The oak box is decorated with brass corners inspired by detailing found on the spirit safe at the distillery; the filigree pattern is inspired by historic packaging and the box is lined with rich red material to protect and showcase the bottle.

Each box contains a plinth for in-home display and a book with the story of Glenfiddich and the 30 year old.

Nose

Finely balanced nose, with substantial oakiness matched by fruit and luscious sherry notes

Taste

Complex and seductively woody, emphasised by a floral sweetness

Finish

Exceedingly long, honeyed and warm.

Price excluding VAT: £186.38
£219.00 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Glenfiddich OB 40yo 45.8%alc. [wooden box]

Batch 6 Bottle # 50 of 600

Top dog of the revised Glenfiddich range.

Official Notes:

The sixth release of 40yo created using the remnant vatting system. Matured in oak casks for at least 40 years.

Bottles are individually numbered, signed, sealed with wax security tag & inlaid with a copper badge.

The outer packaging consists of a calf leather case complete with lock and key & matching leather-bound book detailing the whisky’s history

Includes space for personal tasting notes.

Nose

Beautifully rich with layer upon layer of dried fruits, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and ripe black cherries and occasional notes of gentle wood smoke, polished leather and cloves.

Taste

Silky smooth and luxurious with initial flavours of intense dried fruits, Christmas cake, dates, raisins and stewed apples which are later taken over by slightly dryish oak and some bitter chocolate notes with a mere hint of peat.

Finish

Incredibly long lasting and complex.

Price excluding VAT: £1,404.25
£1,649.99 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity:

Caol Ila OB 25yo 43%alc.

Here’s another magnificent OB Caol Ila 25yo and a truly magnificent Islay Single Malt.

Inside there is Caol Ila with floral notes, Caol Ila with burnt bits of flowers, oily Caol Ila with the excitement and fascination of a big, busy, untidy, fishing harbour (like Mallaig further up the coast); a skim of oil, a reek of fishing boats and stray diesel (and that huge seal bobbin’ about in the middle).

Not too carried away am I?

To taste the players are, in order of appearance; sweet, fruity and peaty but Prof. Sweet and Ms. Fruity are killed off before the end of the first scene, victims of smoke inhalation... Superb!

An ace Islay whisky. Find it in square G9 on the Flavour Map
On the Smoky side of Rich & Smoky.

Caol Ila 25 year old
Barcode: 5000281027104

Price excluding VAT: £114.89
£135.00 Including VAT at 17.5%

Quantity: