Ardbeg Uigeadail takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for ‘dark and mysterious place’ which is also the loch from which Ardbeg gets its water. Ardbeg pride themselves on a range of unique quality malts and Uigeadail doesn’t let the team down. The aroma is a rich mixture of peat, dark sugar, espresso beans and a hint of deep tar. The flavour is led by sweeter notes, with ripe fruit and honey coming through first with just a touch of malt, all the while supported by that lingering peat. Caramel and malt find a place in the lingering finish, adding warmth and sweetness to the peat.
Like the nectar of the gods, Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or is an elegant, vinous single malt that will send you into raptures. Sauternes finish helps to deliver the sweet, vine flavours and enures the fruity notes are bold and inviting. A nose full of dessert wines and barley sweetness gives way to a full-bodied flavour, with cereal notes supporting the more wine-like characteristics. Oaky tannins support a light spice which helps lead to a rounded finish.
Another market-leading cognac, Hennessy's rich and full-bodied flavours strike a special balance which makes it so popular. Bright and fruity from the first opening, Hennessy also has undertones of oak and once in the mouth flavours of nutty grilled almonds and a hint of fresh grapes are released. Tones of red berries and vanilla follow and ageing of a minimum of 2 years helps bolster the intense smoothness of the drink.
The colour blue, chosen as an expression for xo royal, is the colour of the third millennium: the blue of lapis-lazuli, the gem capable to free the creative expression and increase mental clearness.
This 18-year-old offering from the core range of Glenfiddich is matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, delivering a sweet, smooth flavour. As you open the bottle you’ll enjoy the zest of grapefruit, fresh apples and spiced dried wood. When your taste you’ll enjoy all these bright fruit flavours candied and spiced with ginger. Complimentary notes toffee and sherry give the drink further character.
An excellent 18-year-old single malt from Glenlivet, this bottle is a classic Speyside offering which has won awards for its style and refinement. Classic flavours come through in a well-rounded and vibrant nose, fresh with sherried peel, apple blossom and chewy sultanas. On sipping you’ll enjoy the sharpness of tannic oak, walnuts, orange peel and manuka honey. Toasty cereals are spiced up and hints of fennel draw each sip to a satisfying close.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan is a legend in its own right. A dram you won’t forget and a malt you are almost guaranteed to want to buy time and again. Medicinal in style, the nose is rich in herbal and pine notes, with creamier hints of buttery warmth and smoke. The palate too is wonderfully creamy with tingling spices, a touch of fresh fruit, orange peels and that medicinal tang. The finish is long with a salty edge, a hint of peat and that unusual yet enjoyable medicinal taste remains prevalent.
Distilled and initially aged in Canada, before years of further ageing at a whistle pig farm in Vermont, this is, as owner raj bhakta puts it, 'a Canadian-us collaboration to the core'.
A full-bodied and balanced bourbon, at once fresh, sweet and smoky, with a rich and rounded mouthfeel, Longbranch is a collaborative effort between Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell and the brand's Creative Director – award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Longbranch has been refined using charcoal from both Kentucky white oak and Texan mesquite in a nod to both men home states.
Finished in first-fill Caribbean rum casks which previously held Demerara rum. Leading it to have a nose with lots of tropical banana and mango alongside buttery caramel finished on the palate with a prickle of aromatic spice.
Fantastic grain vodka that lives up to its esteemed reputation. Silky mixed citrus zest and soft wheat unfold both slowly and smoothly on the palette. The finish is dry and clean with moments of lemon and crushed wheat; has a great length too. Big thumbs up. Grey goose always delivers. Extremely well-made vodka and well worth the money.
Yamazaki 12-year-old is probably the most famous Japanese whisky there is. an exceptional single malt, it was one of the first seriously marketed offerings from japan to reach the rest of the world. Intensely enjoyable and rich with nut oils and citrus zest, Yamazaki 12-year-old is smooth in the mouth with biting winter spice providing that classic whisky flavour, with the fruity notes ensuring a rounded finish. A must for first-time Japanese whisky drinkers.
This 18-year-old Glenmorangie dram is an exquisite tropical offering. matured for 15 years in bourbon casks before finishing in oloroso sherry casks. This helps develop the warm, tropical fruit flavours and leads to a hugely satisfying flavour. The nose is rich in creamy honey, with greek yoghurt notes, exotic spice and vibrant berries. The flavour is awash with citrus, honeyed sweetness and strong hits of oak. A classic Glenmorangie malt.
One of the newest offerings from islay’s Bowmore distillery, this 18-year-old single malt is perfumed, wonderfully fruity and rich with dark, smoky peat. The nose begins vibrantly, with the alcohol eat coming through amongst perfumed fruit and essence of fruit jam. When the flavour comes through it’s a balance of sweet and smoky, with deep peaty notes paired with cooked fruit and hearty marmalade. The endnote is rich with sticky marmalade notes and a final whisper of smoke.
El Dorado 21 years uses that 21 year period as a minimum benchmark and the blend is in fact made up of blends as old as 25 years and the maturity of this rum is apparent from simply opening the bottle. The aroma is filled with sweet scents reminiscent of an old fashioned sweet shop, with boiled sweets coming through strong on the palate too. The finish brings in some of the more intense notes including fresh tobacco, spiced chocolate and together they create a rum which is ideal for after-dinner sips.
One of the finest XO on the market, Courvoisier XO is an exceptional blend of fine and matured cognacs offering an aroma which immediately entices you in. A balance of intense flavours has been patiently nurtured over a minimum of 20 years and in this time the flavours blend to create the refined, excellence that Courvoisier is known for. Courvoisier's delicate xo has three key flavour notes: fragrant iris flower, sweet candied orange and creamy, caramel creme brulee.
Suntory are the gods of the Japanese whisky scene and their Hakushu line is amongst the most popular. The Hakushi distillery is hidden in the forests near the Japanese alps and this particular offering is aged for 12 years. An exceptional single malt, Hakushu 12 year is a light and refreshing offering with hay and mixed peels on the nose and gentle barley malt, smokiness and hazelnut coming through in the taste. Sweetness is perfectly balanced against spice.
Year after year Reserva de Familia has kept its promise to promote young Mexican artists. The box is now a tradition to proudly exhibit their work, bearing their style, showing through form and colour the art of tequila.
A truly exceptional guatamalan rum, zacapa centenario xo is a premium offering which doesn’t disappoint when it comes to flavour. beautifully delicate, the flavour of zacapa centenario xo is matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks which together deliver a flavour which is exceptionally sweet and sugary, without being sickly. the softness on the palate of this mature rum is surprising and very welcome, with only a hint of smoke coming through in the finish.
Fantastic grain vodka that lives up to its esteemed reputation. Silky mixed citrus zest and soft wheat unfold both slowly and smoothly on the palette. The finish is dry and clean with moments of lemon and crushed wheat; has a great length too. Big thumbs up. Grey goose always delivers. Extremely well-made vodka and well worth the money.
One of the premium members of the Chivas family, rich and complex in flavour, Chivas royal salute is aged for 21 years. Bottled in extravagant handcrafted porcelain flagons, you can tell luxury when you see it and you can taste it too. On the nose hints of fresh dandelion, honey and a little salty sea spray are offered up alongside a touch of peat. When you taste it’s all about the wild extravagant honey and spicy hits of tarragon, dill and other fresh, vibrant herbs. The malty notes carry on into a warm, lingering finish.
18-year-old highland park is an exceptional whisky that builds upon the already renowned reputation of its younger, 12-year-old brother. All the exceptional stand out notes you’d expect in a quality Orkney note are there with mature oak and aromatic smoke coming through in the nose. The full-bodied flavour hits the palate with gusto, with smoke, peat and honey blending together in a beautiful mix. A soft, long and rounded finish teases you into trying just one more sip.
Don julio anejo 1942 spends up to two and half year ageing, nearly enough to be classed as extra anejo. It’s stilled in a single pot still and has the wonderful spiced aromas of cinnamon, sweet agave, vanilla and interesting turkish delight. The taste is deep with cinder toffee notes, the continual flavour of the agave and bursts of sweet, zesty citrus. Dry and nutty the finish is long with notes of smoke.
Encapsulating the spirit of Martell and the deep, refined brilliant of a good XO, Martell xo is a leader in its cognac category. Fresh fruity notes of the Eaux de vie of the borders work in subtle harmony with the bold, matured flavour of Eaux de vie from the grand champagne to create the distinct flavour of Martell XO. A hint of gingerbread smoothly leads the rest of the flavours on, with further highlights of walnut, cedar and orange blossom.
Martell cordon bleu is a distinguished cognac which marries together the flavours of a number of different Eaux de vie from the borders region. Created in 1912 it is deep golden copper in colour and has strong aromas of orchard fruits, plummy warmth, cinnamon, vetiver and toasted almonds. The flavour is simple and mellow with a long and fruit-filled finish coupled with light spices and a hint of honey.