Best balanced of the Tomintoul range with the fruity character of the spirit in perfect balance with the wood character from the cask.

Co-created by one of Scotland’s most awarded Master Distillers, Jim McEwan, together with Cape Byron Distillery Co-founder and distiller Eddie Brook are two new Australian takes on a classic Scottish single malt. Many readers will already know of Jim McEwan who has more than fifty years of experience in the whisky business, having worked at Bowmore for 38 years, before overseeing the rebirth of Bruichladdich and most recently helping to get new Islay distillery, Ardnahoe, off the ground. Two editions are on offer: A Chardonnay barrelled limited edition, and this, the Cape Byron 'Original', aged in Scotland's traditional vessel of choice: American oak x-Bourbon casks. Says Brook, “They go together like a match made in heaven. [The whisky is] not overly dominated by the oak, it’s letting the spirit sing, and we’re seeing this marriage.” What partly accounts for the distinctive style is that the pair have resisted the temptation to use smaller barrels to ‘accelerate’ the ageing process. It's the opposite approach of most Australian distillers. “...We’ve got this climate that gives us faster maturation. Now that’s great, but it can also get too much, you can get too much tannin and then over-oaking in your whisky, ” Brook explains. "To avoid this, we only mature in full format barrels, between 200 to 300 litres in size". Specially designed warehousing facilities further offset Byron’s temperature extremes. According to McEwan, another factor is the distillery's proximity to the coast. “Walk down the barrel room... you’re getting that marine character and influence coming through" he says. "That moisture is falling on the oak staves, and slowly but surely, there’ll be a residue of salt and eventually as the whisky moves in and out, as the temperature increases, the alcohol will expand and it will touch the salt, and pull it back, and that brings a unique marine freshness to the spirit – quite different from anything else...” No surprise that McEwan reckons fans of Bruichladdich might taste some similarities in the Cape Byron spirit. “They’re not dissimilar. There’s no peat, [Eddie’s] using American oak, I used a lot of American oak Bourbon casks as well. I’ve used wine casks – and you’ve got all the wine casks there. There’s a similarity there between what I was doing in Islay and what Eddie’s doing here." As for the taste? Can't say there are many like this - either here or abroad - but you can appreciate why McEwen draws comparisons with Bruichladdich. Cape Byron's Original is a creamy, near voluptuous malt that defies its age. Peaches and cream come through with sweet barley and shortbread on the nose. The co-mingling of dried mango and juicy malt with the Bourbon vanilla aspects is nicely done, and there's a spicy edge adding vibrancy. At the finish, more peaches and cream, dried mango and a little grilled pineapple, pepper and coastal freshness develop. It's a whisky less about overt complexity, all about generous mouthfeel and precocious flavour. No doubt that equation will change over time. Right now, the creative forces behind the project have guaranteed one of the more compelling Aussie releases in recent years. Matured for three years in 200 litre ex-Buffalo Trace Bourbon casks. 47% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Batch 001 tasted. Notes from the producers... The colour of a Byron Bay sunset. The palate offers soft vanilla, creme brulee and biscotti characters, layered over distinct notes of pear, coconut and buttery macadamia.

The distillery is situated north of the traditional highlands, drawing its water from the Alness River, near the city of Inverness. This single malt is a toasty, coffee-rich dram with beautifully spice notes and a thick mouthfeel. The nose is rich in roast beans, the oily nuttiness in a fine espresso with little notes of malt, cereal followed by butter and pastry aromas. The palate is filled full of marmalade and triple sec with winter spices and fruitcake. Zesty cocoa and milk chocolate are also a feature of this very rich 12 year old.

The Dalmore story began in 1839 with Alexander Matheson who lived in the Highlands of Northern Scotland. Matheson found the rich peat and pure water sources of the Highlands to be the makings of a perfect whisky. He built a distillery in the area and produced small batches until 1886, when the Mackenzie family acquired his operation. When a member of the Mackenzie family risked his own life to save Scotland’s ruler, King Alexander III, from a charging stag, the grateful king offered a token of his appreciation by bequeathing the stag to the Mackenzie family as a symbol of valor and courage. And more than 130 years later, the stag head still appears on every bottle of The Dalmore. Today, Dalmore distillery has ten stone warehouses and eight pot-stills, several which date back to the late 1800s. Much of the distillery burned down during World War I while occupied by the U.S. Navy, but production resumed in 1922. The production process is meticulous and includes double distillations in copper pot-stills and aging in white oak and sherry wood casks.

“The elemental opposite of the sophisticated Lord of the Isles.” Perched on a wave washed, rocky headland, the Ardbeg distillery was founded in 1815 by the MacDougalls of Ardbeg. The distilleries scattered white washed buildings are reminiscent of a Dutch settlement and add to the dramatic coastal landscape. Ardbeg has had a chequered history and in recent times had been closed down for many years. Glenmorangie acquired Ardbeg in 1997 and has set about restoring the distillery to its former glory. First launched in 2003, “Uigeadail” (the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows) this cask strength, heavily peated Ardbeg is produced from a mix of bourbon casks and older sherry casks. The combination gives this whisky a velvety texture, with a sweet and smokey finish. Tasting notes: Bright gold appearance. Big, sweet sherry influenced nose offers dried apricot and marmalade scents over menthol and sweet cedar smoke. Some ripe green apple notes emerge with time in the glass. The palate is off dry with a rich, dark chocolate entry becoming heavier and fudge-like with orange chocolate, sweet cereal and the peat continually reinventing itself - at once dry and sooty, then tarry and finally kippery on the finish. Excellent balance at cask strength. Boiled lolly and spice aftertaste with a subtle spearmint fade. Latest batch tasted October 2010.

The Glen Moray 18 year old is a beautiful addition to the Glen Moray Heritage range. Only the very finest American oak barrels have been selected to emphasise the incredibly smooth character and taste of Glen Moray 18 year Single Malt. An intense whisky with a perfect structure, the soft flavours of sweet vanilla balanced with oak from the casks.

Deep, golden mahogany in colour, Dalmore has a fantastic nose of orange, marmalade and aromatic spice. Elegant and rich on the palate with concentrated citrus, oloroso Sherry with hints of sweet vanilla pod. An amazing and lingering finish.

Oban Little Bay is crafted by selecting small batches of their finest single malt whiskies, and marrying the whiskies in their smallest casks to allow more contact with the wood. This unique process, combined with the expert nose and palate of Malt Master, Dr. Matthew Crow, delivers a richer, smoother OBAN® expression with the signature distillery character of citrus and sea salt.

The process of Scotland's slowest distillation can be tasted in every dram of this Cask Strength Single Malt by Glengoyne. Hand-crafted from inception to glass, this single malt also shows the dramatic effect of warm air drying of the barley rather that using peat smoke. Bottled at the higher ABV of 58.7%, the balance between the subtle flavours imparted from the slow distillation and the power of the un-chillfiltered single malt imparts flavours of digestive biscuits, ripe bananas and a hint of pepper. Robust and full-bodied, this is a whisky of the utmost strength that should be enjoyed with some pure distilled water to your taste.

Aged 4yrs in Sherry Barrels sourced from Frances wine region, our 100% Tasmanian Single Malt Sherry Cask is a delicate and subtle whisky, with a slight aroma of sweetened candied nectar and a dried fruit spice on the nose, with an undertone of butter. This is followed by an extremely smooth palate with sweeten white wines, raisins, pink candy and citrus warmth with just a touch of oak. This water of life tells a story, hence our Tasman Whisky is housed within in a gift box worthy of the high quality tomes of old. Its sits ready to be shelved as a volume of flavour, truly highlighting our subtle differences the salt air wafting through the distillery brings.Ready to be housed among your collection proudly. Our Story ;At the edge of the Tasman Sea, where the old drovers hut Iron House once stood watchful, weve been carefully crafting our Single Malt Whiskys over the last 4 years. Unleashed and disgorged from the darkened corners of the our bonding room and hand selected by Iron House Master Distiller, Michael Briggs, you will be treated to a full flavoured experience. In an age old tradition we have created our premium range of Whisky, our Spiritus Frumenti, for all to indulge in. TASMAN WHISKY is absolutely uncompromising and complex and 100% Tasmanian. Mindfully distilled within the confines of our copper still, it is the synergy between the purest malts sourced from the North of the state, the pristine waters of and the cleanest ocean air of Tasmanias untainted East Coast that balance and mature our spirit perfectly.Good whisky is naught but a lens. It is the drink for celebrating your best days and reflecting thoughtfully on your hardest. Its a spirit that demands a careful and discerning approach.It is our story, but it is your Whisky.Tasman Whisky.The Spirit of the East.