The best

• red wine
• white wine
• champagne
• rosé
• whisky
• spirits
• beer

deals in Australia

To produce this release of Akashi Single Malt Whisky, the White Oak distillery aged this whisky in Cognac barrels for 3 and a half years before refining it for 10 months in barrels of white wine from the Akashi vineyard in Yamanashi County. The result is a Single Malt without cold staining or filtration, which has a nice balance and focused on woody and fruity notes. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.

The 2022 Diageo Special & Rare collection is known as "Elusive Expressions", drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson, portrays the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables and the mythical creatures come to life revealing their true characters. This year each bottle has its own unique QR code which, when scanned, takes you on a multi-sensory experience that tells you the story of the whisky, the mythical creature behind the artwork, and gives you some tasting notes to prompt your nose and palate along the way. The label artwork follows almost as a sequel to the 2021 range, revolving once again around the theme of mythical beasts and stories. Illustrator, Ken Taylor, returns again and is joined this year by digital visualisation artist, Kevin Tong. Cardhu 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml (Special Release 2022) was matured in re-fill and re-charred American oak, then finished in Jamaican pot still rum-seasoned casks. A richer, fuller nose that has the hallmark traits of rum-finished whisky, there are soft fruits and pastry notes on the nose. The palate is spicier, certainly drier, and has hints of ginger, stone fruits, and perhaps some mint or eucalyptus.

The Nikka 12 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky is the product of two distilleries (Yoichi and Miyagikyo). This is a well-balanced blend and the result of 'the art of blending and craftsmanship'. It's also awarded 'Best Blended 12 Year Old ' at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards.

This wonderful peated Japanese single malt whisky hails from Hakushu distillery, owned by Suntory. The distillery resides in the forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake, with the original Hakushu distillery built in 1973. Rather fittingly, it boasts a fresh and foresty flavour profile. On the nose you’ll find toasted barley, chopped almonds and a little bit of barrel char. Hints of milk chocolate and dried grass bring sweetness. Much more fruit on the palate, but it's by no means a sweet whisky. Still rich, herbaceous and grassy, with a waft of smoke along the way. Nice expression here.

Single malt. Single cask. Small batch. Hillwood is a contemporary Australian whisky. Made in the tradition of Scottish single malt, but given a distinctive edge from the wild Tasmanian landscape and their artisanal family approach. A Single Cask, Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky, Non-chill filtered, directly from the Cask. Bourbon Cask aged in American oak wood. Approximately 30-34 bottles produced per batch and bottled at cask strength. Spiced oak, honey and toffee apple on the nose lead to a palate of vanilla and warm buttered honey with subtle notes of bourbon. A lasting finish of roasted almonds and crème caramel.

The Shinobu 15 year old Mizunara Cask Whisky is hand crafted by master distiller, Mr Usami. First matured in ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks, it is then finished in Japanese Mizunara oak. Mizunara is an expensive oak which is hard to craft into barrels, but it imparts incredible flavours on the spirit of Shinobu. This pure malt has been maturing for no less than 15 years which has allowed the spirit to take on some very inspiring characteristics. The result is a unique fusion of flavours and dynamic explosion on the palate yet so smooth and easy to drink. Deep rich in colour and complex in flavour, mellow oak wood aromas lead to flavours of honey and molasses, hints of blueberry and deep tones of the Mizunara oak. The palate has subtle ripe fruit, lemon zest, leather and cinnamon with a hint of sweet malt and aromas of fruity oak barrels.

The ceremonial firing of guns in salute is a legendary custom which can be traced back to early seafaring days. Friendly ships passing each other rendered this salute as a gesture of good will. Later it became customary to extend a 21 gun salute to a reigning sovereign upon their arrival. Today this salute marks the welcome of a foreign Head of State to a friendly host nation. The inspiration for Royal Salute, like the ceremony commemorates, seeks to reflect tradition. Aged and bottled in Scotland by Chivas Brothers for 21 years, Royal Salute is unmatched by any other blend for its sheer mellowness. A highly exclusive spirit created for the connoisseur. This is a complex and rich Scotch Whisky with hints of chocolate, lemon, coconut, and tea. The whisky is aged in oak casks for 21 years before bottling. It is then bottled in porcelain flagons, produced by Wade porcelain. The bottle design incorporates the image of Robert the Bruce and includes a Gaelic motto which translates as fidelity, stability since 1801. Note - The style of box may vary between the two pictured.

The Balvenie create a unique range of single malt Scotch whiskies hand-crafted in Speyside using centuries-old skills passed down through generations. The Balvenie's' process is a combination of expertise, skill and ambition which is the same now as it has been through generations. Balvenie's use of 5 key crafts is key to maintaining their high standards. Home grown barley, craft of the cooperage of the barrels, the malting floor where the grain is prepared, the copper stills that create the base spirit and the malt master who oversees the refining of the end product. The Balvenie French Oak is a vibrant single malt finished in casks previously held wine from the French Charentes vineyards. Pineau des Charentes is a fortified wine made from unfermented grape juice, to which a Cognac eau-de-vie is added and then matured. Sixteen years of maturation in American Oak casks brings an abundance of vanilla spice and warm honey notes. The finishing in Pineau casks brings energizing grapefruit, geranium, glazed fruit and ginger. This is the first of The Balvenie finishes to explore French Oak. Pineau is akin to cognac in terms of production and flavour, allowing us to capitalise on the rise of this flavour profile and its premium credentials. The Balvenie USA brand ambassador Lorne Cousin suggested Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE explore these casks after a trip to the region with his family where he fondly remembers sipping an aperitif. Beautifully balanced light floral notes from lotus and geranium flowers dance between hints of fresh meadow grass and pealed apple skin. On the palate there is an energising zing from tangy lemon rind and grapefruit meet the delicate subtle sweetness of glazed fruits and spice from root ginger, with a refreshingly concise finish.

This Single Malt from Akashi was aged 4 and a half years in cognac barrels followed by a further 10 month maturation white wine barrels from the Akashi vineyard located in Yamanashi county in Japan. The resulting whisky has floral and white fruit notes. No colouring or cold filtration. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.

Suntory Whisky was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii. For over three generations, Suntory's master blenders have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. Shaped through masterful technique and served with a reverence for Japanese omotenashi, Suntory whiskies are among the most awarded and admired in the world. Hibiki is the paragon of harmony - launched in 1989 to commemorate Suntory's philosophy on living in harmony with people and nature. The name Hibiki means "resonance" in Japanese. Suntory Whisky Hibiki resonates with the subtleties of nature infused by the twenty-four reasons of Japan's traditional calendar and reflected in the twenty-four facets of its bottle's designs. Hibiki is a noble blend of innumerous malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's globally acclaimed Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. These whiskies are meticulously blended to created a sense of "wa" - a oneness which unveils a full orchestra of flavours and aroma. Hibiki is embraced as an icon of Japanese luxury from the award winning House of Suntory Whisky.