Although little-known as a single malt, Glenburgie has been distilled since 1829. It was purchased by Hiram Walker in 1936 and ever since then has been closely associated with the Ballantine’s blend. In 2004, the old distillery was demolished and a new, larger, open plan design was implemented. A third pair of stills was also added. Now part of Chivas Brothers, this is one of 159 bottles filled from a single cask in 2019 for Hunter Laing's 'Platinum Selection'. To our knowledge, it's the oldest Glenburgie ever bottled. It's also from the distillery's early period, prior the 2004 demolition. Drawn from the cask at 41.8% and non chill filtered, a handful have been imported for Australia. Laing's notes say to expect complex, rich aromas of Christmas cake, spice cupboard and Turkish Delight while being very fruity on the palate with ripe mango overlaid by a wonderful waxiness. Glasgow-based Hunter Laing launched the Old & Rare Heritage series in October 2019. It's composed of twenty different single casks, all of which have been matured for more than 30 years. A swathe of Scotch whisky styles, many of which have changed significantly or disappeared entirely over the last three decades are presented in dark green bottles and lacquered wooden clasp presentation boxes (a look harking back to the original appearance of the Old and Rare ‘Platinum’ range when it was first released at the turn of the millennium). Of this new series, Stewart Laing, managing director of Hunter Laing, says, “There are some whiskies which are so remarkable that they deserve a little extra recognition, and our heritage series was created to celebrate these incredible malts.” He continued, “My two sons and I have personally selected each of these whiskies from our finest and most prized stocks.”

Sherry and peat can be a challenging equation as the wine can almost cancel the peat. Some distilleries manage to get the balance right, creating a new and interesting take on much-loved classics (if your preference when drinking Laphroaig is to have it as coastal and earthy as possible, this may not be for you). The sherry oak finish isn't generally available in Australia, and we've only been able to secure a tiny volume. It has a higher ABV in its favour - the standard 10YO is just 40% - with Oloroso sherry casks in support. Apart from the expected smoke, seaweed and salt, you'll find notes of manuka honey, bacon and maple syrup. Probably lightly filtered, but it's not stated on the label. 48% Alc./Vol. Very limited stocks.

The second batch of Speyside #3 from that Boutique-y Whisky Company features a gaggle of ghosts on the label (we're pretty sure that's the collective noun for ghosts). They're raising a toast on a dark evening. The whisky itself is a 6 year old single malt, produced at an undisclosed distillery in the Speyside region - with many distilleries around that area, it might be a bit tough to guess which one it came from, though maybe the label has a clue or two... 4,094 bottles make up batch #2. The notes below refer to batch #3, but we don't expect there'd be a significant difference. 49.3% Alc./Vol.

The sixth decade of a collection celebrating The Six Decades of Bond. The Macallan has become James Bond’s whisky of choice in recent years, reflecting his appreciation for the finer things in life. They have shared many moments together on screen, including in Skyfall when Bond drinks The Macallan Fine & Rare 1962 as an ode to the 50th anniversary. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of James Bond, we have created a series of immersive experiences at The Macallan Estate. This includes The Macallan in Cinema, a unique exhibition which takes you through our history on film and transports you through the six decades of James Bond. The world has been revolutionised time and time again by great Scottish inventors, fuelled by their boundless imagination and inspired creativity. Embracing this, The James Bond 60th Anniversary Release celebrates a drive to push boundaries through innovation and invention, expressed through six unique releases. The distinctive packaging brings to life the creative development process of the films in a behind the scenes exploration of the James Bond archives. The collection is an exhibition of the most iconic moments across the six decades of Bond; each decade encapsulated on its own packaging. Bringing to life the innovations and inventions of James Bond across the years, the packaging has been colour washed with one of the trending colours of the decade it represents. This exceptional single malt whisky has been created by The Macallan Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell to reflect the character of James Bond. A force of nature defined by his Scottish heritage, he carries himself with modesty and humility. Like James Bond, the expression exudes a sense of style and maturity which has evolved over the years. The whisky is consistent within all six bottles. The distinct range tells the story of innovation over 60 years and the pioneering character attributes of James Bond and The Macallan. James Bond is a modern innovator and man of perennial evolution. The Bond films have become closely associated with ingenious 007 gadgets that are used on his mission to deliver for the greater good; and have become a hallmark of the franchise’s popularity. Decade VI explores the Bond innovations and archives of the 2010s. The pack design features a Day of The Dead poster from Spectre (2015) and a Skyfall Lodge illustration from Skyfall (2012). The Day of the Dead poster calls back to the action packed opening sequence in Spectre. Instead of filming Mexico’s popular festival, the production created their own version, taking over Zocalo Square with over 1,500 extras. In 2012 Skyfall brought the audience back to James Bond’s childhood home, but also tragically destroyed it. Daniel Craig’s performances endeared further notes of domesticity, deep love and family. Making the character more relatable than ever, Craig reveals a vulnerable humanity at Bond’s core, without compromising any trademark resolve or physical capability. The packaging design features childhood home Skyfall Lodge in Skyfall (2012), and a Day of the Dead poster from Spectre (2015). Swiss gold in colour. The nose is fresh and vibrant notes of lemon and lime, a sprinkle of sherbet, leading into a sweet vanilla and coconut, with a hint of dried fig and raisin. On the palate flavours of orange zest and fizzy sherbet with a lemon freshness, gentle oak and subtle ginger spice, leading into a deep dark chocolate, figs and baked apple tart with a honey drizzle. The finish is sweet and long with complexed layers.

The Macallan has become James Bond’s whisky of choice in recent years, reflecting his appreciation for the finer things in life. The brands have shared many moments together on screen, including Skyfall when Bond drinks The Macallan Fine & Rare 1962 as an ode to the 50th anniversary. Now comes the 'Decade Series', celebrating Bond's 60th anniversary, expressed through six unique releases. The distinctive packaging brings to life the creative development of the films in a behind the scenes exploration of the Bond archives. It aims at bringing to life the innovations and inventions of James Bond across the years, and the packaging has been colour washed with one of the trending colours of the decade it represents. Decade V explores the Bond innovations and archives of the 2000s. The design features digital concept art of the Siena Gallery Interior from Quantum Of Solace (2008) and a driving sequence storyboard from Casino Royale (2006). Leaving the 90s behind, Daniel Craig embodies the Bond of the noughties. From his first appearance in Casino Royale, never was a card game presented so stylishly and with more tension in any other film. The setting, ingredients, character and dedication to craft combine to deliver an utterly compelling result. The packaging design features a dramatic car sequence from Casino Royale (2006), and a digitally sketched rooftop chase in Quantum Of Solace (2008). The whisky itself was created by Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell to reflect the character of Bond: A force of nature defined by his Scottish heritage. Like James Bond, the whisky exudes a sense of style and maturity which has evolved over the years and is consistent within all six bottles. 43.7% Alc./Vol. Notes from Macallan... Swiss gold in colour. The nose is fresh and vibrant notes of lemon and lime, a sprinkle of sherbet, leading into a sweet vanilla and coconut, with a hint of dried fig and raisin. On the palate flavours of orange zest and fizzy sherbet with a lemon freshness, gentle oak and subtle ginger spice, leading into a deep dark chocolate, figs and baked apple tart with a honey drizzle. The finish is sweet and long with complexed layers.

The Nectar range was born from a passion for Scottish single malts shared by two whisky connoisseurs, Mario Groteklaes and Jan Broekmans (who founded the Belgium company, The Nectar, in 2006). Young and old single malts stand side by side in this range, whether from well-known distilleries or not. Their research and selection work often draws rave reviews on amateur whisky blogs. Anyone whose followed Longmorn over the decades knows how few and far between cask strength releases have been. Bottled in 2021 for the independent's 15th anniversary, expect notes of sweet malt, lemons, ginger, cinnamon and rich oak spice. 55.7%. Non chill filtered.

Older Laphroaigs are gaining momentum on the secondary market, particularly when they're cask strength. This one from LMDW's Artist series was filled into a Bourbon barrel in 1998 and decanted in 2019 filling just 165 bottles. There have been several Laphroaigs of varying ages in this range which have received strong reviews from the likes of whiskyfun.com. Extended maturation guarantees to add layers of complexity over your normal experience of this distillate. European exclusive. Notes from the bottlers... Expect heady aromas of hyacinth, ash, candied lemon, chocolate and acacia honey fill the nose, over hints of gooseberry and blackcurrant. The palate promises notes of black truffle, earthy peat, coal dust, sea salt, Havana cigars and grated ginger. 54.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Crafted in the heart of Speyside and contains five of the most precious signature single malts, Chivas Regal Ultis is the first blended malt Whisky from the House of Chivas Regal. It pays homage to five generations of Master Blenders in what is an exceptional luxury whisky with complex flavours, a glorious golden hue and a commanding, rich aroma.

By using new French oak casks to finish this scotch, a fantastic vanilla and spice character is leeched into the whisky. This compliments the sweet malt and floral characters perfectly.

Created in 1932 by Sir Alexander Walker, the uniquely shaped bottle will sit and 'swing'. This was in fact the very last blend created by Alexander Walker and today still features the 'Striding Man' in his original pose of walking from right to left, while all other Johnnie Walker scotch's now feature a left to right moniker. The swing is a multi-year blend from Speyside, Highlands and Islay and is noted for its rich, golden colour and silky smooth palate with inherent sweetness.