Wine Spectator (95)

Wine Spectator (98)

Vinous (98)

Vinous (98)

Wine Advocate (96)

Wine Advocate (97-99)

James Suckling (98)

James Suckling (98)

Richard Mayson (18.5)

Indulge your senses with the sublime Glen Garioch Highland Single Malt Fighting Fish 24YO 1990. Originating from the small market town of Oldmeldrum, Scotland, this single-malt scotch whisky is a product of centuries-old expertise by the Glen Garioch distillery - Scotland's most Easterly distillery. This 1990 vintage boasts an impressive age statement of 24 years; its maturation in oak casks lending it deep complexities and a rich, smooth character. Known for its taste profile that wonderfully balances sweet and spicy, it exudes notes of dark chocolate, winter spices, and dried fruit zest. The Glen Garioch Highland Single Malt Fighting Fish 24YO 1990 is a sophisticated sip, reflecting the tradition and craftsmanship of Scotland's whisky making heritage. A splendid addition to any discerning whisky aficionado's collection, and a bewitching gift for the devotees of single malt.

Glen Ord Highland Single Malt Rare Malts Selection 23YO 1974, hailing from the Ord Distillery, is an illustrious addition to any liquor collection. A revered and historic distillery, the Ord Distillery nestles in the Northern Highlands of Scotland and is celebrated for its top-grade Scotch whiskies. This antique dram is a testament to the distillery's dedication and prowess, distilled meticulously in 1974 and bottled after 23 years of patient maturation. Resultant is a spirit that carries the mystique of its time and space, transcribed into an extraordinary tapestry of flavours. The whisky emanates a luscious yet delicate balance of fruity sweetness and lingering spiciness, underpinned by an air of smoky peatiness. It offers a full and substantial palate, redolent with honey, malt and oak, ending in an elegantly long finish. Savour a sip of Glen Ord Highland Single Malt Rare Malts Selection 23YO 1974 to cherish a moment of timeless conviviality rolled in every drop.

Often hailed as the epitome of fine Scotch, the Glen Scotia Campbeltown Single Malt Fighting Fish 21YO 1992, comes steeped in heritage. A sublime offering from Glen Scotia distillery, one of the last three standing in Campbeltown, a historic whisky producing region of Scotland. This single malt honours the year of 1992, maturing for twenty-one long years, thus offering a rich depth of character and intricacy.

Presenting a captivating blend of sweet fruits and soft spices, it spoils the palate with distinct notes of vanilla, orange, caramel, and touches of peat smoke. The long, warm finish hints at the whisky's distinctive Campbeltown character. Housed in an ornate bottle, the Glen Scotia Campbeltown Single Malt Fighting Fish 21YO 1992 is a collector's delight, encapsulating the master craftsmanship of Glen Scotia. A supreme liquor for spirit-fanatics, it paints a vivid picture of intense flavour fusion and time-honoured whisky making traditions.

Whisky Base (93)

Colour: Full, rich dark gold.

Nose: Full, complex aromas with dried berries and sherry-infused malty tones

Palate: Sweetness akin to a fine, aged cognac with incredible oloroso depth and freshness. Fruit, nuts, marzipan and Christmas cake warming spice.

Finish: A whisky you never want to end and it almost feels as if it won't, the finish goes on forever with spice, decadent dark cocoa and forest floor. A final flourish of spiced demerara rum leaves you longing for more.

Colour: Autumnal, red gold.

Nose: Fresh sweetness with fruity Turkish delight with a power akin to the first whiff from a freshly opened bag of Java coffee beans.

Palate: An undeniably decadent sweetness on the palate with salted caramel, dark cocoa and Oloroso-soaked raisins. Sherry comes through with excellent power, bringing with it Sherry and spicy demerara notes.

Finish: Lingering and persistent with alternating layers of sweetness and dry roastiness and peppery spice. Extremely complex and enthralling.

Colour: Amber with dark-gold highlights.

Nose: Complex yet refined with tempting aromas of marmalade, nuts, freshly ground coffee and chocolate.

Flavour: Full-bodied and robust with some oaky tannins courtesy of its exceptional age in sherry barrels.

Finish: Powerful but never overbearing with exceptional balance. Intense and long in the mouth with beautiful finesse and freshness.

Glenfiddich Speyside Single Malt 1977 Rare Collection Cask 22742 1977 is the epitome of fine Scottish whisky craft. Distilled and matured entirely at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, it presents as a timeless classic from Speyside, the heart of Scotch whisky country. The Glenfiddich Distillery, renowned for its passion for perfection, has carefully nurtured this whisky for over four decades in a single Sherry Butt cask. Its unique character narrates a story of seasoned oak, interwoven with rich dark fruits, whilst hints of brown sugar and warm spices deliver a grand finish. The exceptional quality of Glenfiddich Speyside Single Malt 1977 Rare Collection Cask 22742 1977 rests on its exceptional provenance and meticulous maturation, harmonising an exceptionally smooth and layered taste profile. This single malt whisky, distilled in 1977, is a testament to Glenfiddich's unwavering dedication to producing luxury single malt Scotch.

Whisky Bible (95)

Nose (23.5): Crunchy, crisp sugars capture the malt fresh and youthful as though in aspic.

Taste (24): Profoundly salivating. Like malt sets off fermentation, icing sugars sets off the barley-rich juiciness to the maximum level... and the mid-point? Hard to believe but here you hit malt max!

Finish (23.5): Not sure if it is possible to get better balance between oak and malt in a Highland whisky. Light mocha and liquorice. But a sub-strata of creamy Horlicks, too...

Balance (24): Principally has a firm glazed feel to this. But the intensity of the malt takes the breath away. Too beautiful.

A superb rendering of Glenmorangie's elegant Highland spirit in a gloriously whimsical, yet sophisticated presentation. The flowers adorning the case and label eloquently capture the profile of the whisky and give one of the great classics of world whisky the flair it deserves.

One of the hottest commodities on the cask market over the past year is assuredly The Glenrothes. Stablemate to Macallan and Highland Park and under the masterful guidance of Gordon Motion who took the reins in 2009, there are few Speysiders which have the reputation for longevity and excellence as The Glenrothes. After a rapturous reception to our recent offering of the 2011s and a follow up of 2012, we are pleased that we can offer a last butt of 2013 to our customers as well.

Glenrothes is best known as a sherry-aged Speysider and this cask shows why that reputation is so justified; taking the best elements of the wood and developing into a thoroughly impressive malt. Having spent the last decade in first fill butts and taking on some remarkable characteristics as well as impressive depth of colour, they are nothing short of blue chip casks in the early days of their trajectory.

Stored at Glenrothes distillery since distillation, this has not been regauged hence the cask being listed with OLA details but a sample drawn has indicated excellent colour extraction and a recent regauge of the 2011 casks we purchased registered RLA 262.5 which is par for the course on a 1st fill Sherry butt and we would expect this to be regauged in the coming weeks between 262 and 285 RLA or thereabouts with an ABV in the low to mid 60s, indicating excellent longevity.

Wine Spectator (94)

Wine Advocate (95)

James Suckling (99)

Colour: Fine, polished brass.

Aroma: Delicate and grassy with a bright orchard fruit profile, reminiscent at first of Speyside but developing a unique persimmon complexity.

Taste: Exceptional purity rivalled by few if any others. A fine salinity balanced by bright satsuma citrus notes makes for a sweet, ethereal palate.

Finish: For such a light, balanced whisky the finish is exceptionally long and complex. The persimmon on the nose comes back for an encore, taking a final bow with notes of ginger, allspice and bay.

Few producers of spirit, Scotch or other can claim as dynamic a history as Tullibardine. Tullibardine’s modern history begins in 1949 though there was a brewery on the site dating back to 1488 which made ale for the coronation of James VI, (later James I of England). Originally part of the Whyte & MacKay portfolio it was under-appreciated and mothballed in 1995, until it was bought by independent investors setting up the Tullibardine Distillery Ltd. who resumed production and rejuvenated the brand.

A classic Highland gentleman, it is a whisky of fine character and a good example of the terroir of whisky as the distillery draws its water from the Danny Burn flowing from the Ochil Hills, known as some of the purest in the country (the same source of Highland Spring water). This splendid source gives Tullibardine its soft generosity, not to mention its agreeable nature, affording it a remarkable propensity to take to wine finishes better than most. We've even had a very fine rosé-tinted Banyuls finish!

A strikingly designed distillery set among picturesque farmland at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Auchterarder it is in many ways the modern heir of the Perthshire farm distilleries of centuries past. It is a genuine marvel for many insiders that Tullibardine's elegant, gentle spirit has not attracted the attention it deserves. That will not remain the case for long, in our view.

Tasting Note

True to the distillery's style there is a gentle, fine-grained oak influence and a soft, refined perfume to this cask of Tullibardine. It is maturing slowly and the colour is currently akin to a young german Riesling rather than a white Burgundy. The nose is just so pretty and engaging even considering the youth of this cask. A touch of pear rather than apple, some honeysuckle and melon with a subtle floral perfume. Patience is a virtue, but one this makes me struggle to employ. Give it at least 5 years before checking in on it and probably bottle at 15 or above.

The Holyrood Distillery is the first malt distillery to open in Edinburgh in nearly 100 years and its founding comes amidst a truly exciting time for the whisky industry in Scotland. With an innovative and ambitious spirit sweeping the country buttressed by steadily growing global demand for the world’s most famous distillate, Scotch whisky has been reinvigorated by new start-ups and micro distillers placing the ancestral homeland of whisky back at the forefront of this global industry.

Founded by Canadians Rob & Kelly Carpenter and Scot David Robertson, it is in many ways remarkable that Holyrood is the first malt distillery for so long to make a home in Edinburgh (Glenkinchie is well out of town in Pencaitland and North British is single grain only). The city has a long and proud history of brewing and distilling (legal and otherwise) and the city’s natural underground water supply is known through history as “the Charmed Circle” for its purity and abundance.

The focus in this casks is the barley variety; distilled from a mash bill of 100% pure Golden Promise barley - the same type used in the distillation of The Macallan and Glengoyne single malts, and filled them into 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry hogsheads (in which Golden Promise has shown excellent success at both the aforementioned distilleries) of the highest possible quality.

Filled in April of this year, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow the development of a new distillery with one of their earliest distillations. Imagine having a cask of 2001 Port Charlotte bought for under £17 IB per bottle when casks now go for £60,000-plus! The one difference being that Port Charlotte is just a sub-brand from the Bruichladdich distillery which had been running for many years already; here we have a new distillery entirely founded with a commitment to making the best possible whisky in the heart of Scotland’s capital.