Dae ye ken?
The smaller the barrel used, the stronger the oak influence, due to the hugely increased oak surface contact compared to the small amount of whisky

Cask
Coopers at Laphroaig made these oak quarter casks

Nose
Ripe, new-make barley sweetness followed by a combination of a barbecue, flower, sooty chimney, apple slice and a piece of Gouda

Taste
Smoky and accented with hints of coconut and banana aromas

Finish
Full bodied, deep, complex and smoky

Distillery Info
Laphroaig is on Islay, a wee Scottish island off the West coast of Scotland inhabited by only 3200 people. The Johnston brothers first started (illictly) distilling Laphroaig whisky over 200 years ago

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‘Balvenie’ means ‘Village of Monks’ in Scots gaelic

Cask
American oak ex-bourbon followed by a marriage in Portuguese port pipes which have previously held fine port wines

Nose
Perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a brazil nutty dryness. A distinct mustiness in the background verifies the age

Taste
Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes. Deep and complex

Finish
Long, gentle and nutty

Distillery Info
The distillery was built in 1892 around a haunted mansion. Today the distillery is still independent and family owned by William Grant and Sons

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George T. Stagg was born December 19, 1835 in Garrard County, Kentucky, later making ade quite a reputation for himself as one of America’s finest whiskey salesman. He had the good fortune to work with none other than E. H. Taylor, one of Kentucky’s original bourbon aristocrats

Cask
New American oak

Nose
Spicy rye notes with maple syrup, pepper and coffee

Taste
Maple oak spice with Chai tea lattes, espresso beans and walnut

Finish
Long, sweet and very spicy. My gosh!

Distillery Info
George T. Stagg is a limited-production bourbon whiskey manufactured by the Sazerac Company and distributed by (owner) Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of their 'Antique Collection'

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Grain whiskey is made primarily from corn or maize. This is a special edition whiskey limited to only 4000 bottles, be quick!

Cask
American oak ex-bourbon barrels for 18 glorious years

Nose
Soft sweet corn with a burst of zesty orange and citrus lemon

Taste
Sweet butterscotch toffee with rich creamy vanilla

Finish
Lingering sweetness giving way to smooth clean oak

Distillery Info
Cooley, the makers of Greenore, are Ireland's only independent distillery. Set up in 1987 they had a vision to restore some of the ancient brands of Irish whiskey to their former glory. Let the good work continue...

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Suntory's blenders use Mizunara Japanese oak barrels that once contained Umeshu - a traditional Japanese plum liqueur – to endow this whisky with a singular bouquet of fruit aromas and a silky texture

Cask
Ex-Umeshu Mizunara Japanese oak

Nose
Citrus leaf, cocoa, cooked apricot, ripe banana, and hazelnut giving a crunch

Taste
Toffee sweetness stretches along the palate. Very clean and clear. Sweet with sultana and cherry

Finish
Long and silky

Distillery Info
This fantastic Japanese blend is made with aged malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's three prized distilleries - Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita

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Demand forced The Macallan to build a new high tech warehouse to cope with their expansion. It is the largest single-roofed whisky warehouse in Europe with a handling capacity for 60,000 casks yet it has traditional bare earth floors with damp and mouldy conditions, ideal for maturing whisky

Cask
Exclusively Matured in Selected Ex-Sherry Oak Casks from Jerez, Spain

Nose
Dried fruits with chocolate, orange, vanilla and wood spice

Taste
Rich and smooth, with fruit cake, vanilla, and a hint of wood smoke

Finish
Full and lingering with dried fruits, cherries and spice

Distillery Info
The Macallan distillery was legally licensed in 1824

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In January 2006 The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust found several cases of spirits lodged in the ice under Shackleton’s hut. Three contained Chas Mackinlay & Co’s whisky

Cask
Mackinlay's is a vatting of malt whiskies including Dalmore, Glen Mhor and other malts (mostly Speyside), all ranging from 8 to 30 years of age

Nose
Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed
apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse the senses

Taste
Gentle bonfire smoke slowly gives way to spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan nuts followed by an array of creme brulee, orange rind and freshly baked bread

Finish
Oranges, spices and smoke

Distillery Info
The historic Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt brand is owned by Whyte & Mackay, who acquired it as part of Invergordon Distillers in 1995

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Sadly the herring industry is no longer part of the daily life in Wick, but Pulteney Distillery continues to operate, distilling one of the finest Highland Malts available

Cask
Mix of fino sherry and refill bourbon casks

Nose
Apple, butterscotch and flapjacks

Taste
Green apple, cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of dry wood plus the trademark Old Pulteney saltiness

Finish
Decent length, coconut, and again some salt

Distillery Info
Established in 1826, the Pulteney distillery is found in the heart of 'Pulteneytown', the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s herring boom in the 19th century

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Dae ye ken?
Suntory was one of the first Asian companies to specifically employ American celebrities to market their product e.g. Bill Murray and Sammy Davis Junior

Cask
Aaged in three different kinds of oak: American, Spanish and Japanese

Nose
Rich sherry and raisins, follwed by maraschino cherries and finally coffee cream chocolate

Taste
Full bodied with lots of orange juice, fruit syrup and jam

Finish
Long and dry

Distillery Info
Japan has had a whisky industry since 1923. The Yamazaki distillery is built on a site which includes a Shinto shrine and the site of the first Japanese tea house

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Founded by the MacDougall family in 1815. Seizure of a large quantify of illicit whisky by Excise watchmen led to the start of a legitimate operation.

Cask
American oak bourbon barrels

Nose
Lemon sherbet, tinned fruit salad, toasted vanilla, cinnamon balls, green apples and wood smoke

Taste
A big coal hit on the palate, warming, smouldering, intense and complex

Finish
Smokey peat oils, vanilla cream, dusty oak floorboards, and chewy liquorice whirls

Distillery Info
Peat plays an important part in Ardbeg's flavour and in this part of the island of Islay it is particularly good, being free of sulphur and other undesirable minerals. Ardbeg single malt hasn’t always been widely available and at one point was only sold in a couple of local hotels

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