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.

Signature fruity flavour, creamy sweetness, well-balanced, smooth

Another Ardbeg Day release arrives, bottled once and never to be repeated. This time around, it's created with roasted black malt - a first for Ardbeg. Incinerated to within an inch of its life, the malt defines the profile contributing charcoal and sweet smoke, aniseed and dark chocolate for a memorable Islay experience. Trumping past releases, Ardbeg's marketing department has gone to considerable lengths for the new edition, this time focusing on the brand’s alleged punk past, with Islay’s main port, Port Ellen, going by the nickname ‘Punk Ellen’ in the 1970s. (There was even a punk posse led by the local hotelier's daughter, which reached as many as three at the height of its notoriety). Meanwhile, Ardbeg’s head of distilling and whisky creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden, describes the flavour as being “like biting on a spiky ball.” Collectors will love it, with the story and presentation being a hook for followers of the brand. The limited edition main release has landed (as opposed to the even more limited Committee Release) and as is always the case, it comes bottled at 46% and non chill filtered. The first sniffs bring young distillate to the fore, so from a fresh bottle give this a good ten minutes and you'll get a moderate lift of menthol-infused peat that also hints at anise, fennel and rye bread receding into sweeter smoke and vanilla malt with further air contact. It's medium bodied and sweetly peaty (think Caol Ila); hints of Elastoplast mingle with chocolate sponge cake and sprinklings of pepper; the finish is ashy and warming with citrus tang lacing late malt sweetness. Overall, in spite of the presentation and marketing, this is much more civilised and approachable than you might expect. Notes from the producers... Spicy and savoury, Ardcore grips the senses with waves of marmite, burnt toast, chicory charcoal and infused coffee grounds making for a mosh pit in the glass. Like a safety pin through the septum, a classic Ardbeg herbal top note is present, while swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses loiter backstage. TASTE: A jaw dropping spicy and fiery mouthfeel leads to an explosion of rich, smoky flavours – cocoa powder, dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers all pogo in unison on the palate. Amped up aniseed and malty biscuit elbow their way to the fore, punkturing taste buds. FINISH: In an altogether sweeter finish, long, lingering notes of treacle toffee, soot and smoke make for an anarchic, but delicious, aftertaste.

Product Information: The Dalmore King Alexander III is the world’s first single malt to be crafted using an assemblage of six different cask finishes. This masterpiece showcases The Dalmore's philosophy of multi-cask maturation, bringing together Bourbon casks, Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks, Madeira casks, Marsala casks, Port pipes, and Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques—all expertly married in a Sherry butt. The result is a whisky that delivers a rich and enticing flavour profile with remarkable depth and complexity. Master Distiller Richard Paterson describes this pioneering whisky as "a fitting reward for those with the courage to stand apart and make a difference." Aromas of red berry fruits and hints of passion fruit lead to a palate of citrus zest, vanilla pod, crème caramel, and crushed almonds. The finish is endless, revealing dustings of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger spice—a true testament to The Dalmore’s remarkable legacy. This whisky commemorates King Alexander III of Scotland, who reigned from 1249 to 1286. His rule is remembered as a golden era of prosperity and territorial expansion, thanks to his diplomatic acumen and courageous leadership, including his pivotal role in fostering peace with England during a time of frequent conflict. Maker: The Dalmore’s history is steeped in royal legacy, symbolized by the 12-point Royal Stag that adorns each bottle. This emblem was bestowed upon Colin of Kintail, chieftain of Clan Mackenzie, by King Alexander III of Scotland after he saved the monarch from a charging stag in 1263. The Dalmore distillery was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, with the Mackenzie clan taking control in 1867, further cementing the brand's connection to royalty and quality. The distillery’s unique collection of stills produces a robust and fruity new make spirit, ideal for long, complex maturation. Richard Paterson, a pioneer in cask curation, guided The Dalmore for nearly five decades, setting the stage for its global acclaim. Today, Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass continues this tradition, blending innovation with time-honoured techniques to craft exceptional whiskies. Gregg Glass, awarded Master Distiller of the Year 2023 at the Global Icons of Whisky Awards, works closely with Richard Paterson OBE, pushing the boundaries of whisky-making while preserving The Dalmore’s timeless legacy. Philosophy: For nearly two centuries, The Dalmore has been guided by visionary whisky makers, forging exclusive relationships with the world’s finest bodegas and wineries to secure the best casks. Under their expert care, time, cask, and artistry work together to shape the spirit into an unparalleled whisky. The Dalmore's relentless focus on realising the full potential of its single malt ensures each bottle is a masterpiece, reflecting the distillery’s commitment to excellence. Nose - Red Berry, Subtle Passion fruit, Vanilla Pod Malty and fruity, unmistakably Dalmore. Seville orange zest, rose, malty cereal, barley and chocolate. Creamy vanilla fudge, and tropical vinous notes trail. Palate - Citrus Zest, Crème Caramel, Crushed Almonds Round feel. Winter berries, spice, zesty orange liqueur notes, amaretto sweet nuttiness. Finish - Cinnamon, nutmeg, Ginger Beautiful spicy impression in the finish. Peppery with judged oak followed by subtle claret notes.

Every Macallan single malt reveals the distilleries unrivalled commitment to the mastery of spirit and wood for which they have been known since it was established in 1824. It is an expression of their enduring desire to go beyond ordinary, to seek out the extraordinary, and create peerless single malts. There remain at The Macallan Estate rare, black-ended casks holding peated Macallan. The smoke-infused spirit matured in these sherry seasoned oak casks has gathered distinction and depth over decades. Flavour notes of warming wood spices open to dark chocolate and ginger, with a rare, lingering, and characterful peat trace. An affectionate history of a whisky, it expressively chronicles bygone crafts of the generations that made it. Those lucky to meet it will never forget their rendezvous. Subtly smoky and brooding it may be, but the whisky possesses the spark and breeding of a true Macallan. In its honour, its new home is hand crafted from black Lalique crystal. The Macallan M Black 2022 release is utterly unique. Precious, peat infused single malt, Lalique finesse and lateral creativity are married seamlessly. This remarkable release is truly one to cherish.

The Balvenie Cask Finishes is a unique range of single malts created by David C. Stewart MBE, The Balvenie Malt Master. Cask Finishes gains its distinctive character from maturation in two distinct cask types in succession, a proprietary process pioneered by David in 1983 with The Balvenie Classic. For The Balvenie Thirty, he marries Traditional and European oak casks that have been matured for decades in order to craft a whisky of incredible sweetness and complexity. The Balvenie Thirty’s silky sweetness gives way to rich honey, mellow oaky tones and hints of candied orange peel. Smooth and honeyed on the nose with mellow oaky tones and hints of candied orange peel, great depth with rich dark chocolate, hints of plum, marzipan and caramelised pear and an exceptionally smooth and warming finish with gentle spice and lingering sweetness.

A beautiful Scotch showing a magnificent balance between malt and peat. Aged for 14 years, slightly longer than most at the same price point, Oban is a whisky for those who love their Scotch's rich, smooth and intense.

Lasanta begins with Glenmorangie's deliciously delicate and fruity spirit, which is matured for 10 years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before being extra-matured for 2 years in Spanish Sherry casks. Lasanta is Gaelic for warmth and passion, a reflection of the sweet and spicy flavours of raisin, honeycomb, spiced orange, and chocolate-covered hazelnuts.

It's been over a decade since we've revisited the Balvenie range. From the 12 Year Old, right up to the venerable 30 year old expression, the house style emerges as one of the lightest and most delicate to be found from Speyside with almost no peat evident. 'Doublewood' gains its character from maturation in two woods, transferred from traditional x-Bourbon American oak to a Sherry oak casks for its final maturation. It's sometimes described as the classic, "essential" expression in Balvenie’s core range. From a 30ml sample, the nose is lifted with vanilla, dilute honey and dried fruits. The entry is featherweight, unfolding into a medium-weight dram with moderate flavours of dried fruit and a warm mouthfeel. An aftertaste of dried grass and drying oak sustains a little prickle. All up, this is uncomplicated and typical of the distillery style, but even at 12 years old, Doublewood still tastes surprisingly young. 40% Alc./Vol.

Released in the UK in 2021, 'A Tale Of Winter' is the latest annual limited edition from Glenmorangie to arrive in Australia, coinciding with the approaching Winter season and World Whisky Day (Saturday the 21st of May). Like its predecessor, "A Tale of Cake', this is a concept whisky from the inside out. Bill Lumsden has used 13 year old (plus) x-Bourbon matured single malt and finished it in Sicilian Marsala wine casks. The flavours of Marsala typically hint at apricot, vanilla and brown sugar and range from dry to very sweet. Evidently Lumsden felt these casks were perfectly suited to provide the profile he was looking for. The marketing team have responded with an eye catching knit-sweater-patterned presentation to evoke the feeling of the season. As for the whisky itself, it kind of reminds you of mulled wine or spiced rum. The colour is deeper and the nose heavier and richer than most 'Morangies to date; Festive spices feature, with cinnamon and nutmeg over ginger snaps and hints of orange cake and boiled confectionary. The palate is more full bodied again with a deliberate spice theme: Ginger beer, fruit cake and persistent warming spices ricochet around the drying finish. Ultimately, it's a whisky that achieves exactly what the label suggests - a genuine Winter warmer. Besides sipping straight, Glenmorangie recommend it in a Winter Old Fashioned (recipe below). 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.