Bowmore, Islay's oldest distillery, has long been renowned for the quality of its distillate, with elusive old bottlings among the holiest of grails for enthusiasts and collectors. Now, after years of almost exclusively official distillery releases, indie-bottled Bowmore is back! Living Souls has bottled this venerable old Bowmore from a small batch of first fill bourbon barrels. It harks back to the golden age of Bowmore with its abundant tropical fruit notes - mango, roasted pineapple, overripe banana - which sit alongside soft smoke, cream soda and vanilla custard. Age may have mellowed the peat, but this is no subtle dram.
A superb value Speyside whisky from Aultmore distillery, this batch is made up of just three ex-Bourbon barrels. Smooth, warming and classic, with notes of pear drops, vanilla ice cream, lemon drizzle cake and gentle oak toast.
COLOUR : Pure Gold
AROMA : Rich, sweet, aromatic and fruity, baked banana bread and syrupy sponge pudding fill the senses. Notes of treacle trot into a distinctive whiff of burning cedarwood. A splash of water releases a bounty of tropical fruits. Eucalyptus oil mingles with and soft, aromatic smoke.
TASTE : Zesty notes of lime and sweet peaches canter across the palate. A burst of rich smoked fruit and baked bread prance into antiseptic lozenges, creosote, and aniseed. Soft barley malt combines with nutmeg and peat smoke.
FINISH : The influence of these rare Madeira casks is undeniable. A whimsically smoky finish welcomes a long and lingering aftertaste of menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.
A characterful Highlander from the cult favourite Balblair distillery. Citrus predominates, with Seville marmalade and lemon curd notes, as well as something faintly resinous, like pine sap. The finish in XO Cognac octaves (small casks, built to increase the contact between spirit and wood) has lent it some gorgeous spice aromas - allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon.
Into barrel on the 10th March 2017 this is almost 9 years old and at 45% abv. Aged in Warehouse K.
A complex aroma of vanilla, mint and molasses. Pleasantly sweet to the taste, with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit and anise. The finish is long and smooth.
Hand Selected By Cambridge Wine Merchants
This bottle is true whisky dedication, a celebration of American Oak sherry cask maturation from beginning to end. Quercus Alba Distinction begins its journey in the oak forests of North America, before being imported into Spain where these casks are carefully crafted in the ‘sherry triangle’ over the course of six years.
The staves are left to air dry in the Mediterranean sun before being assembled and toasted by experienced coopers. Finally, the Oloroso sherry seasoning takes place, before the casks travel to Tamdhu.
Over time, our vibrant new-make spirit combines with the American Oak sherry cask to deliver rich fruity flavours and a wonderful natural amber colour.
Bottled solely from the contents of one expertly chosen barrel, this expression of Elijah Craig is the pinnacle of Bourbon craftsmanship. Bold, robust, and incredibly complex, 18-Year-Old presents a rare and unique opportunity to sip some of the oldest Bourbon in Kentucky.
A superb value vintage malt from a certain Orkney distillery, finished in first fill oloroso sherry butts for amazing richness and colour. HP's signature heather smoke and herbal aromatics are joined, but not overwhelmed, by cinder toffee, prune and dried orange peel.
Crafted to be elegant, expressive and welcoming, Taigh is matured in a considered combination of First Fill Bourbon barrels, Refill Bourbon casks and select Madeira casks, bringing balance, softness and depth to Torabhaig's peated spirit.
A richly sherried, indulgent Irish whiskey, drawn from a small selection of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Pajarete casks and encompassing Pot Still, Grain and Malt components. An excellent exposition of the blending tradition that defined Ireland's whiskey heyday.
A luxuriously sherried Linkwood from the always excellent Signatory Vintage. This is one of those under-the-radar distilleries whose output really shines when bottled independently. Showcasing the distillery's gentle, elegant style, this malt displays subtle hints of ginger and pink pepper alongside walnut, nougat, prune and an almost Armagnac-like richness. The insider's choice.
Sweet nose with notes of dried fruit, nutmeg spice, honey, caramelized walnuts and a gentle touch of oak
Initial spicy notes of cinnamon and clove fade to reveal grape syrup which coats the palate, with raisins, figs,candied cherries and a hint of liquor ice
From a secret distillery in the Speyside region, perhaps the most famous and sought-after of the lot, this represents really outstanding value compared to the distillery bottlings! This bottling is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry butts, imparting layers of deep, rich dried fruit flavour and a dash of treacle. Though an overused phrase, 'Christmas in a bottle' is apt here.
Something very unusual here - a Manuka wood smoked New Zealand single malt! We were blown away when we tried this. It's properly savoury, with layers of complexity involving notes of bonfire smoke, lemon zest, roasted pineapple and toasted almond. A novel, and brilliant, Islay alternative.
A superbly well-aged (M)alt from one of Speyside's finest distilleries... Can you guess? Bottled at a punchy 57.1% and aged in first fill oloroso sherry butts, imparting decadent richness and notes of treacle, manuka honey, roasted hazelnuts, dried cherry and toasted rye bread. Exceptional indeed.
Nose Peach and dried apricot, sweet butterscotch, vanilla cream, citrus zest, synthetic bananas and gooey malt.
Palate Toffee first and foremost, with notes of barley malt, gingerbread, tropical fruits, honeyed pipe tobacco lveas, black pepper, roasted chestnut and freshly cut hay.
Finish Medium length with vanilla and dried tropical fruit.
A small batch gem from the tiny, cult favourite Edradour distillery. Matured in Burgundy red wine casks for over twelve years, introducing notes of dried red cherry, rose and peony to this weighty, oily spirit. Not a beginner's whisky, but sure to delight any seasoned enthusiast.
A celebration of ten years of distilling at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, this special release of only 2016 bottles contains whisky from the very first cask ever laid down at the distillery. A mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Madeira casks, which imbue the fruit forward distillate with notes of exotic spice, caramelised biscuit, honey and vanilla.
A single barrel bottling of Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, drawn from Barrel 035 and available only at Cambridge Wine Merchants. Went into barrel in 2015 matured in warehouse N, floor 4 before being bottled on the 45% ABV.
On the nose, this barrel opens with deep layers of toasted oak, dark caramel, and vanilla bean, underpinned by hints of dried orange peel and cinnamon stick. The palate is rich and expansive, revealing notes of honey-roasted nuts, cherry compote, and a dusting of baking spice. A silky texture leads to a long, warming finish with lingering flavours of leather, dark chocolate, and sweet tobacco.
A super-limited release from the outstanding White Peak distillery, this is an 'anti Black Friday' bottling exclusive to high-street retailers. Only 295 bottles have been drawn from a single Portuguese Moscatel wine barrique, which has imparted notes of Battenberg cake, orange peel, cinnamon buns, yoghurt coated raisins and candied ginger.
One of our favourite expressions from the always outstanding White Peak distillery. The fresh tawny port casks impart flavours of marzipan, cherry bakewell, caramel and milk chocolate which work beautifully alongside the vibrant, smoky spirit.
Matured in a combination of white, tawny and ruby Port barrels. It is supposed to be a full-on Talisker with robust flavours and a subtle finishing. Bottled at 59.7% ABV.
One of Scotland's most underrated distilleries, Ardmore produces a robust spirit with a certain earthy smokiness thanks to the use of Highland peat. This expression, matured in second-fill Oloroso butts, combines savoury characteristics of smoked brisket and bonfire with notes of sultana, candied orange peel and pastel de nata.
