|
|
Home > Caro's Wine Shop >
Whisky
|
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Islay
Ardbeg claims to be the peatiest Islay whisky, and uses malted barley sourced from the (Diageo owned) maltings in Port Ellen. Despite a pungent nose, formidable flavours, and high alcohol content, Ardbeg is surprisingly smooth on the palate, with a warm lingering finish.
Part of the Big Monster Three from Islay this Whisky has Islay written al over it
astoundingly smoky, yet delicate with subtle tarry notes behind. With water the smoke dies a little and raisin and caramelised apple notes emerge.
Palate
An immediate waft of peat smoke. Full, robustly flavoured with turf and lapsang souchong tea.
Finish
Salty, long and filled with fragrant peat reek.
Comment
A punch in the chops from a stroppy Islay middleweight. Flavour-packed yet delicate
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Speyside.
From one of Scotland's oldest and best distilleries in the valley of the River Spey, this single malt represents all that is good in Scotch whisky. Matured in oak casks and aged for many years until it has reached a smooth mellowness. It is then bottled with care for the enjoyment of true Scotch lovers the world over.
Matured in oak casks and aged for many years until it has reached a smooth mellowness. It is then bottled with care for the enjoyment of true Scotch lovers the world over. The source of this whisky is a closely guarded secret, but it is sure to delight the most discerning palate. A rich hearty Highland malt.
Amber coloured with gold highlights. This medium-bodied whisky has an aroma that is rich, sweet and toffee like, lightly peated with an appley character. The flavour is sweet, rich, quite full bodied, round and smooth with a slightly unctuous oily texture and a long, sweet toffee character with a cherry tail.
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Highland.
The granite distillery of Glen Garioch is found outside Aberdeen in the farming town of Old Meldrum. It's an appropriate place for a whisky distillery as the 'garioch' is an area once known as 'Aberdeenshire's granary.' It's an old distillery too, having been established in 1797.
Glen Garioch closed in 1995 for a major refurbishment which enhanced the traditional production processes rather than modernising them, and it re-opened in 1997.
Only a handful of the bi-centenary bottlings were produced in 1997 which will be very collectable. If you can't get your hands on one of these, one of the distillery standard bottlings will at least be something you can drink and enjoy and the 21 year old is particularly fine.
Owned by the same Company who oversees Bowmore and Auchetoshan.
Sweet and spicy with a subtle hint of vanilla, tones of fresh oak and ripe fruit. An enjoyable, refreshing finish.
Colour: Warm amber
Nose: Lemon, pears, honey
Palate: Peat smoke, dark chocolate
Comments: Remarkably long and complex
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Campbeltown.
The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then!
Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation.
This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone's shelf.
Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a "hand-made" single malt.
At Springbank there are three copper pot-stills - one wash still and two spirit stills. The wash still is the only one in Scotland to be heated using both internal steam coils and a direct burner to the base of the still. To prevent any solids sticking to the still bottom, the wash still is fitted with a rummager, a revolving arm which drags copper chains around the bottom of the still, dislodging any solids contained in the wash which are likely to stick. In the process it is constantly exposing new copper which, it is thought, may contribute to the final flavour of the whisky.
As the eye takes in the dark, russet colour of this 15 Year Old, the nose anticipates the rich sweet smell of the sherry casks used to mature this age of Springbank. However the sweet nose on this dram only begins to suggest the full range of flavours which emerge on the palate; dark chocolate, figs, marzipan, brazil nuts and vanilla all mingle to dramatic effect! Warming and elegant on the finish.
A truly classic Springbank that is best enjoyed after dinner or with your favourite cigar.
|
|
|
|
|
Nose
Massive peat. Ultra-intense iodine carries a shade more spice than of old. The fruity-sherry notes are clean, vanilla is much deeper. Beautifully layered.
Palate
Peat so thick you could stand a spoon in it. Chewy iodine bolstered by sherry and big oak.
Finish
A little spice lightens the grip of the peat and vanilla. Dries off with malt, dried dates...and iodine.
Comment
A true classic in every sense that offers breathtaking depth.
|
|
|
|
|
Nose
Perhaps the most enigmatic aroma of them all: delicate yet assertive, sweet yet dry, young yet oaky. A malty tone poem.
Palate
Flaky oakiness with a complex toastiness to the barley suggesting the lightest hint of smoke.
Finish
Amazingly long, drying from the initial sweetness but with flaked almonds amid the oakier notes.
Comment
A great single malt: beautifully uncompromising from the first sniff to the last gulp.
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Lowland.
Auchentoshan is a rare delight, besides being one of the few Lowland Single Malt Distilleries still in production, it is unique in that the whisky is Triple distilled rather that the usual double distillation. The Distillery was purchased by the Company in 1984 and has been completely refurbished over recent years.
Triple distilled and matured for over twelve years.
The result: a Lowland single malt whisky with the tempting aroma
of toasted almonds, caramelised toffee and the signature smooth,
delicate, Auchentoshan taste.
Wood Type: Various
ABV: 40%
Colour: Golden honey
Body: Light to medium
Nose: Creme brulee, a burst of citrus and the signature nuttiness and
green leafiness of Auchentoshan.
Taste: The palate is smooth and sweet with hints of tangerine and lime.
Finish: Gingery and slightly drying with a pleasant lingering nuttiness.
|
|
|
|
|
The island of Arran was once famous for its whisky, however for over 150 years there was no legal distillery. This changed in 1995, when Scotland's second newest distillery opened at Lochranza, and was commisioned by the current distillery manager Gordon Mitchell. Interestingly, the charming Mr Mitchell was involved at the beginning of Cooley/Connemara. Does this make him the only living man to have commissioned two malt distilleries? The quality of the Arran whisky shows he got it right (again!), with stocks developing well.
All Single Malts from this producer are non-chill filtered.
Nose The initial rush of vanilla sweetness gives way to the fruits of slow distillation - kiwi, banana, cantaloupe melon - with just a dusting of cocoa powder. It is undoubtedly complex and yet the aromas are in complete harmony with the malt.
Taste A touch of cinnamon adds a spicy edge to the soft and sweet texture which captivates the palate. The classic Arran citrus notes have rounded with age and reveal new depths of character against a background of sweet oak.
Finish It drifts over the tongue like golden syrup and fades ever so slowly to tempt another sip. This is a beautifully made whisky. Arran has come a long way in 10 years. Truly the best things in life are always worth waiting for!
Nose Dried fruits, cedar wood, dark chocolate and a hint of cigar box
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Islay.
Bowmore Distillery on the inner Hebridean Island of Islay was first legalised in 1779 and is one of the oldest Distilleries in Scotland. Situated on the shores of Loch Indaal, it was acquired by the Company in 1963 and is one of only five Malt Whisky Distilleries in the whole of Scotland, which still has traditional floor maltings.
There is a distinctive richness throughout all of it's range which make it one of a handful of the best distilleries in Scotland.
Characterised by intense smoke NOT peat fires BUT more like gentle summer bonfires and a myriad of floral notes.
Colour: Warm amber
Nose: Lemon, pears, honey
Palate: Peat smoke, dark chocolate
Comments: Remarkably long and complex
|
|
|
|
|
Region: Island (Isle of Arran).
Single Cask Sherry: spent all of it's maturation in an ex-Sherry Cask and is bottled at cask strength and then individually numbered. Arran are developing a number of exciting new single cask finishes - aiming to release a new one every 3 months. Eg Amarone, Chianti, Fino Sherry Finish.
This Whiskey is also non-chill filtered and - a pure expression of Single Malt Whisky.
Colour: Mahogany
Nose: Dried fruits, cedar wood, dark chocolate and a hint of cigar box
Taste: Full-bodied, rich and spicy
Finish: Long and lingering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
