Whisky Bottles

This twelve-year-old Highland Single Malt was distilled in 2008 at the Blair Athol Distillery along the banks of the River Tummel. Drawn from a single, undersized 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel previously used by the Koval Distillery, it is a youthful pale golden colour with bright aromatics of red apple and pear as well as fine vanilla and warm baking spices. A generous, well-balanced highlander from one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland dating back to 1798, this is a personal favourite and a fitting first bottling of the Stiùbhart Single Cask Selection. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 58.9% without chill filtration or added colouring.

Whisky Bible (97)

Well-aged Caol Ila is one of the greatest pleasures for a whisky drinker and collector, with very few bottles reaching and exceeding the 30-year marker. This offering from legendary bottlers Gordon & MacPhail is a bona fide treasure for lovers of this most thrilling Islay single malt. Distilled in 1988 and matured for 31 years in a refill sherry butt, this is showing a delicately balanced profile combining the classic peat and maritime-infused spirit with the fine fruit flavours and svelte texture courtesy of the cask type. Just 422 bottles were drawn at natural cask strength of 51.4%.

Colour: Burnished brass.

Aroma: Classically Caol Ila nose of wild flowers, sea breeze and burnt citrus peel with a slight dried fruit richness complimenting the peat.

Taste: Much sweeter on the palate with stewed fruit and prunes alongside smokey peat ad black olive. A bit Côte-Rôtie like?

Finish: There is a satisfying persimmon and black pepper drying complexity on the peat-infused finish. A true-blue Islay-lovers malt par excellence.

A single cask Islay malt matured in undersized ex-Bourbon barrels previously used to mature Bourbon whiskey at the Koval Distillery, showcasing Caol Ila’s classic oily maritime qualities with aromas of sweet, earthy peat, sea breeze and iodine alongside pungent, warming spices evoking cinnamon, cumin, smoked pepper and cardamom. A finish laced with eucalyptus and dried mint makes for a restrained, finessed Islay with a long, dynamic finish. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 58.1% without colouring or filtration.

The second bottling from the Stewart Whisky Company in their Stiùbhart Single Cask selection, released in March 2021 at 13 years of age in a limited run of just 132 bottles.

Initially this single cask Glen Garioch is restrained, revealing only the most delicate and refined aromatics. Glen Garioch is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, with its origins in 1797 in the Aberdeenshire village of Oldmeldrum. If the heavily sherried styles endemic to Speyside are Cru Classé Bordeaux, then this is 1er Cru Burgundy in its finesse and fine-boned structure. Just 328 bottles filled from Cask 1637 at 45% ABV.

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.