Tag Archives: single malt

Scotland

Oban 14 YO – West Highland

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Oban

 

 

OBAN STORY
Fine single malt whisky has been made here in Oban for
over 200 years, in one of the oldest licensed distilleries in
Scotland. In effect, the town grew up around the
distillery and since its foundation in 1794 it has played a
crucial role in local life. Oban is the frontier between the
West Highlands and the Islands; the meeting place
between land and sea.

In 1883 the unforgettably named J. Walter Higgin bought
the distillery. Between 1890 and 1894 he dismantled and
rebuilt it bit by bit, in order to keep it in production – such
was the demand for Oban Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He
carefully replicated the famously small stills and other
traditional features in order to preserve the quality of the
whisky.

The distillery buildings and their internal arrangements
remain almost the same today as they were following
Higgin’s refurbishment.

PERFECT SERVE
Oban 14 Year Old has a rich sweetness followed by a
smokey dryness that is best appreciated neat or on the
rocks.

Picture 2959
Picture 2959

Appearance: Olive Gold
Nose: Rich sweetness and oranges & lemons with sea-salt and
peaty smokiness
Body: full, rich
Palate: Mouth filling, dried figs and honey-sweet spices, followed
by a smoky, malty dryness
Finish: Long, smooth-sweet finish with oak-wood, dryness and a
grain of salt

Scotland

Glenkinchie 12 YO – Lowland

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Glenkinchie (416520)

 

GLENKINCHIE STORY
One of the few remaining Lowland distilleries,
Glenkinchie’s rural location amid fields of barley, just
twenty miles from the hustle and bustle of the capital,
makes this “The Edinburgh Malt”.

Founded in 1825, the distillery was later purchased and
restored by an association of whisky merchants and
blenders from Edinburgh in the 1890s. It took ten years
but the result was the Victorian distillery that we know
today, with its characteristic red-brick buildings, houses
for workers and even its own bowling green.

PERFECT SERVE
Glenkinchie 12 Year Old is light, sweet, fresh yet creamy with
hints of flowers and cut grass, underpinned by toasted malt
and cheesecake notes. It is best enjoyed neat or on the
rocks.

Glenkinchie 12 Yo Bottle

Appearance: Pale Gold
Nose: Aromatic, vanilla, cut flowers and a clean, toasty note.
Body: Light, smooth
Palate: Sweet, soft start becoming flowery. Crisp mid-palate then
butter icing, lemon, cheesecake and freesias
Finish: Herbal and drying, a little like pot pourri.

Scotland

Clynelish 14 YO – Coastal Highland

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Clynelish

 

 

 

CLYNELISH STORY
The original distillery at Clynelish was purpose built to
serve the new farms being established on the fertile land
of Sutherland’s coastal strip. For a cost of just £750 in
1819, the future Duke of Sutherland was able to provide
a ready market for the barley grown by his tenant
farmers. It’s from these origins that we’re able to enjoy
the highly regarded Clynelish today.

The economic recession of 1931 forced the distillery to
close. Production restarted in 1938, only to shut down
again from May 1941 until November 1945 due to
restrictions on the supply of barley during World War
two.

In the 1960’s, Clynelish was brought up to date when
electricity was installed and still which had previously
been heated by a hand-fired coal burning furnace were
converted to internal steam heating. Then, true to its
origins as a model design, Clynelish was replaced by a
new distillery built on an adjacent site in 1967-68.

PERFECT SERVE
Clynelish 14 Year Old has floral fragrances and maritime
flavours with a light, dry finish, best appreciated on the
rocks or neat.

Clynelish 110348

Appearance: Yellow Gold
Nose: Light candle wax, sugar. Faint floral fragrance. Scented
candle wax comes up with water. Dried flowers on a beach. Later,
brown sugar
Body: Firm, light to medium
Palate: Pleasant, creamy mouthfeel; maritime generally
Finish: Some salt, dryish, attractive slight bitterness

Scotland

Dalwhinnie 15 YO – Highland

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Dalwhinnie Logo

 

 

DALWHINNIE STORY
The distillery was founded by Grant, Mackenzie and
Sellar in 1898 (when known as Strathspey distillery). Its
name derives from the Gaelic for a ‘meeting place’ of
sheep and cattle drovers. It is incredibly remote but was
purpose built to be close to the geographic centre of the
Highlands and enjoy easy access to the reliable link to
market offered by the new Highland Railway. This helped
the distillery to survive its fragile beginnings.

As well as being a fine distillery, Dalwhinnie also has the
distinction of being an official weather station, with one
of the lowest recorded average temperatures in Great
Britain.

PERFECT SERVE
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old is a smooth, creamy, fragrant
whisky. Heather, honey and delicate sweet spice notes
make it the Gentle Spirit that is best enjoyed neat or
on the rocks.

Dalwhinnie

Appearance: Gold
Nose: Crisp, dry and very aromatic with hints of heather and peat
Body: Light to medium
Palate: Smooth and lasting flavours of honey sweetness & vanilla
followed by deeper citrus flavours
Finish: Lingering, starts sweetly, then gives way to smoke & peat

Scotland

Cardhu 12 YO – Speyside

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Cardhu

 

CARDHU STORY
Cardhu Distillery-previously called Cardow-must be one
of the best-located distilleries in Speyside. High on the
hills on the north side of the Spey Valley with extensive
views to the south, it is also the spiritual home of Johnnie
Walker; the number one blended Scotch whisky in the
world.
By the time John Cumming bought a license for his
Cardhu distillery in 1824, he and his wife Helen had
already been producing illicit whisky for 13 years.
Whenever the Excise officers passed by, Helen would
disguise the mashing and fermenting as bread-making.
Then, while the officers drank the tea she made for them,
she would fly a red flag from the barn to warn their
neighbours that revenue men were around.

PERFECT SERVE
Cardhu 12 Year Old is a generous, multi-layered malt
whisky. Richly fruity, with honey and nut flavours, it is
best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

Cardhu New Bottle

Appearance: Golden Honey
Nose: Heady, pear drops and sweet honey-nut notes, with faint
traces of wood smoke
Body: Soft, pleasing, medium
Palate: Well balanced, sweet and fresh, then a pronounced drying
effect
Finish: Short, lingering sweet smoke with an attractive, drying
aftertaste

Tasting Notes

Aberfeldy 25 YO

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aberfeldy-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aberfeldy 25 YO: A limited edition 25 year old Highland single malt from Aberfeldy that was distilled way back when it was owned by Diageo, who eventually went to sell on in 1998, before being bottled in 2003.This very collectible rarity comes complete with original dark-wood presentation case and is one of just 150 bottles. On the nose it is creamy with some sherried fruit and a hint of smoke, the palate is sweet with a gentle peat and a faint hint of citrus.

Tasting Notes

Aberfeldy 18 YO

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aberfeldy-18_8961_album1

 

 

 

 

 

Aberfeldy 18 YO: Aberfeldy’s 18 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky was originally launched for the Travel Retail Market. Presented in a bottle designed to fit in with the rest of the Aberfeldy redesign, this stylish single malt is a creamy, easy-going treat for the palate. Brimming with familiar notes of vanilla, buttermilk pancakes and stewed fruits, as well as warming oak notes from the fairly long maturation.