Honouring their ‘Distillery of the Year’ award at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2022, this release is the Isle of Raasay unpeated spirit matured in ex-Four Roses bourbon casks before a second maturation in Quercus humboldtii oak.
At five years old, this is the oldest Isle of Raasay whisky they have released to date and their first major unpeated release.
Every drop of spirit is aged and bottled in their island warehouses, supporting the local economy while maximising the influence of the Hebridean climate on their single malt whisky.
Limited release of 9500 bottles worldwide
Non-chill filtered and natural colour.
ABV 50.7%
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.
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.
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.
On the west coast of the Isle of Arran lies a windswept and mystical peat
bog called Machrie Moor. Bronze Age stone circles and standing stones
are strewn across its barren, undulating terrain. One of the stone circles
is known as Fingal’s Cauldron Seat, where sits a stone with a carved hole.
The legendary warrior giant Fingal is said to have tethered his favourite dog
Bran to this stone. This peated expression of the Arran Single Malt perfectly
captures the rugged beauty and lore of the landscape. Unleash the legend
that is Machrie Moor.
Vibrant oak spices and floral heather honey develop to rosehips and barley sugars, all warmed by a touch of white pepper. Subtle peat notes complement the palate by giving a delicate depth and dryness of glowing campfire embers.
This whisky displays vibrant notes of banana, mango and papaya along with biscuity malt character and baking spices. On the palate there is a pronounced richness with notes of chocolate, coffee and cinnamon before finishing with a hint of stone fruit and black pepper.
Lochlea's grain to bottle philosophy is expressed beautifully here with the help of some quite unusual casks - ones that previously held Calvados. These are combined with ex-Bourbon and new oak casks to create a delightfully fruit-forward whisky, with notes of poached pear, freshly cut grass, honeysuckle and tarte tatin.
Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry finish. A staple of many an enthusiast's collection since its triumphant return in 2009.
Lochlea's whisky is all made from barley grown on their own farm, which was once home to Robert Burns. This indulgent expression has been matured in Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and Port casks, imparting great richness and a decadent, rounded sweetness. A proper sherry (and port) bomb.
The youngest age-statement release in the Port Askaig range of single malts from undisclosed Islay distilleries, this eight-year-old whisky is warming and smoky with notes of limestone, liquorice and dark peat.
Full bodied and robust. The sherry and the oak fight for your attention yet neither are overpowering.
An intense finish, long lasting dry and malty. A beautiful dark chocolate taste at the back of your mouth to complete the 25 years old.
Silky-smooth single pot still whiskey from rugged West Cork. Subtly layered, a touch lighter and more elegant than your typical single pot still whiskey, this displays notes of honey, malted milk biscuit, blossom and lightly roasted nuts.
Tempting sherry-sweet malty tones combine with subtle spices. Warming the glass reveals honey, vanilla and pear drops. Delicate and light on the palate, with a mouth-watering combination of maltiness and fruit.
Palo Cortado is a rare and highly prized style of Sherry from the Jerez region of Spain. This type of Sherry cask is sought after for maturing whisky as it imparts a complex balance of nutty dryness, caramelised sweetness and oxidative depth as well as adding a nuance Sherry influence to the spirit character. We have aged our Lagg Single Malt initially in Bourbon Barrels before transferring it into ex-Palo Cortado Sherry casks for 6 months. We then bottled at 56.2% Vol without chill filtration or added colour.
Colour: Warm gold with amber reflections.
Nose: Peach and white grapes. Hints of vanilla, almonds and a touch of smoke.
Palate: Rich mouth feel, very oily with a lingering orange essential oil. Citrus, with baking spices like ginger and cinnamon.
Finish: Medium length finish. Lots and lots of orange and ginger. Subtle smoke takes over with a dry ashy finish.
Batch Strength No. 008 encapsulates our unwavering commitment to crafting exclusively sherry-matured whisky, presenting a captivating deep natural copper hue and a complex flavour profile. With each Oloroso sherry cask carefully hand-selected, this expression delivers an exquisite and nuanced flavour, leaving a memorable and gratifying finish that embodies the essence of Speyside.
With a smooth and creamy sweetness, hints of fruit, malty honeyed spiciness and soft vanilla, the crisp Deanston 12 year whisky finishes with a satisfying tingle of cloves.
Wire Works' most awarded whisky, and it's not hard to see why. This is a real testament to the outstanding quality of their lightly peated spirit.
Nose: Vanilla cheesecake, white chocolate, fruit salad sweets, lemon curd, candied ginger, peaches and cream
Palate: Custard creams, lemon zest, icing sugar, chocolate covered peanuts, honey, ginger bread
Finish: Apple crumble, murray mints, lime pickle, white pepper
One of the most iconic, and long-running, cask strength releases out there. A great showcase of Glenfarclas' sherried style, with fruitcake, molasses and treacle tart notes giving it such richness. A textbook sherry bomb, yet with finesse despite its strength. Best enjoyed with a teaspoon or two of water.
A snappy, youthful Ardbeg, aged for five years - but you wouldn't even know it was aged that long, looking at the colour. This, for fans of Ardbeg's rugged distillate, is a blessing, for it allows said spirit to shine through, unobstructed by overactive casks. Properly raw and elemental, this 'Wee Beastie' has notes of black pepper, sea spray, toasted almond and tarry rope.
A 12yo Highlander from Glengoyne, famed for their unpeated single malt. Glengoyne is always very pure in style, allowing their high-quality, easy-drinking whisky to shine in its natural state.
Famous Grouse Smoky Black was renamed from Black Grouse at the end of 2015. This blend is based on peated Islay malts, and offers 'reassuring smoothness with aromatic, peaty flavours'.
High Mocha Charred and Toasted Casks
Peppery, warming, explosion of fiery spicy flavours like chili. Flavoured Chocolate, bitter sweet mocha, briar wood, tar, ground black pepper and smoked artichokes.
A fine introduction to the Yoichi range, this no age statement bottling offers a distinctly fruit forward expression, while retaining the salty coastal influence of the distillery. A single malt which balances pleasure and personality, it can just as well be enjoyed before or after a meal.
