Shining a light on the distillery’s exceptional spirit from a bygone era, Jura Rare Vintage 1990 is a rich and lively single malt, reflective of the character now synonymous with our island and its tiny island community. Distilled on 5th December 1990 as cool winter temperatures prevailed, the Jura grassy new make spirit was filled into American White Oak ex bourbon barrels to slowly mature for 26 years, before being finished for a further three years in an Amoroso Oloroso Sherry butt. Crafted from non-peated barley and bottled at 46.5%, this incredible whisky is non-chill-filtered and natural in colour.

Kavalan’s Distillery Select series showcases the fine art of blending and the exquisite cask selection of Taiwan’s premier distillery. This expression No. 2 is an enticingly smooth drop, deeply aromatic with an irresistible floral and herbal complexity that delivers the delicious tranquility of the forest.

Kavalan’s Distillery Select series showcases the fine art of blending and the exquisite cask selection of Taiwan’s premier distillery. Expression No.1 in this series exquisitely brings out the aroma of tropical fruits unique to Kavalan, creating a soft and thick multi-layered taste. Its aroma is long-lasting, lingering with creamy toffee, woodiness, and vanilla notes. A long finish with notes of sweetness.

Yuza Distillery was established in 2018 and to date has released just two single malts (The First Edition has already picked up Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Challenge) and is well on the way to becoming one of the country’s newest cult distilleries. Sitting at the base of Mount Chōkai in the heart of Japan’s snow country, Yuza is the first Whisky distillery in the country’s Yamagata prefecture. Operational since November 2018, from day one, Masaharu Sasaki and his young team have drawn on the example laid down by Chichibu’s Ichiro Akuto, to perfect an authentic Japanese Whisky that could compete with the world’s best, while remaining true to their sense of monozukuri and producing Whiskies that are uniquely Yuza. It’s early in the piece and yet all the signs — not least the meticulous attention to detail and limited production — point to Yuza becoming one of the brightest stars in Japan’s Whisky firmament. Yuza sits on the flats near the Sea of Japan and enjoys an abundance of soft water from snowmelt and underground springs fed by the sponge-like crevices of lava of the nearby volcano. Chosen for this purity of water and access to the port for their specialised equipment, the area also experiences a massive 40°C average temperature difference over the year. This is projected to super-charge the maturation of the Whiskies in barrel; Masaharu Sasaki estimates eight years maturing in Scotland will equate to just five years in Yamagata. To hone their craft, the Yuza Distillery team partnered from the start with Forsyths, world leaders in distillation equipment. Yuza’s entire distillery team is fresh to Whisky but nurtured and overseen by the Scottish still-makers, providing an essential blank slate to be moulded to a completely new formula, key to Yuza’s dedication to an unfettered style. Facility equipment is centred around five Canadian Douglas Fir washbacks and two stills, including a Glendronach-inspired spirits still with an extended line arm, designed for more surface contact to give cleaner flavours with fewer sulphites. Dedicated only to Single Malt production, this small operation (the distillery covers just 620 square meters) has passed up the opportunity to release any ‘newborn’ expressions. The wash is currently 100% barley from Crisp Maltings with plans to eventually include a local option. Early bottlings point to a non-peated house style, but several heavily-peated batches have also been laid down. While Yuza’s barrel program remains secretive - even when touring the facility, you’ll find all the barrelheads are painted over - the early signs pointed to a preference for ex-Bourbon barrels. Now there is a portion of Sherry cask in the mix and Masaharu Sasaki has spoken of his desire to increase his inventory, picking up stock whenever he can. This cask strength Whisky was carefully selected from barrels from the first season at Yuza Distillery from February to July 2019. It’s estimated, that this selection could contain up to 80% ex-Sherry barrels. As distinct from the First Edition - a very bright expression raised in ex-Bourbon cask - the Second Edition was blended for more complexity, depth and luxurious flavour. This has a very old-world flavour profile (slightly reminiscent of top-shelf Speyside) and the alcohol sits in excellent balance with the complexity of the spirit. There’s a whisper of peat on the nose, with fragrant cereal notes before a progression towards deeper stone fruits and fig. It’s luscious and oily in the mouth, round and slightly earthy with spice and oat notes. It finishes dry with traces of liquorice and a mineral tang.

Lark Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is proudly unique in character and style. Entirely made by hand, Lark consistently distills some of the worlds most prized Whiskies, with no more than 100 litres at a time. Distilled in locally crafted copper-pot stills, this exceptional classic cask is the flagship product of the Lark Distillery. This Whisky is best described as a complex mix of vanilla-caramel-maple syrup with some slightly spicy, floral notes and gentle hints of fresh pepper on a flavourful lingering finish. Excellent neat or with a drop or two of filtered water.

Laphroaig, founded in 1815 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, has an extremely rich history; neighbourly disputes with Lagavulin and many ownership changes to name a couple. The 10 Year Old Single Malt is Laphroaig's signature malt that is full sparkling gold in colour and has that signature rich smoke and seaweed character with a hint of sweetness. Surprisingly the palate is rich with subtle sweet hints and complex layers of salt and peatiness that evolve on the palate and continue to the long and dry finish.

One by one, The Last Great Malts of Scotland will leave their distillery gates. Deemed the bad boy of Speyside, Craigellachie is an unapologetically unique and challenging Single Malt. This is a complex dram, packed with flavour and texture. 13 Years Old, from an 1891 distillery. Bottled at a punchy 46% ABV. A stubborn, sulphurous single malt, condensed in rusted worm tubs on an inhospitable rocky bluff.

The nose depicts fresh wooden barrel, maltose taste: Mizunara oak, maltose, nectar, coffee bean, fruit acids, slight fragrance of floral finish: This is richer in taste than the N A S Whisky. The sweet aftertaste is outstanding, and the barrel again brings out the different levels of spice flavours. Deep floral woody scent is also full of vitality and opulent flavour.

Something of a mystery Laphroaig with very little information available. Created from selected casks from each of the distillery's key styles (Quarter Cask, PX, Triple Wood, and 10 year old) with one exception - the heart of the spirit is sourced from a final maturation in virgin American oak. Seasoned whisky drinkers will be aware that new wood is rarely used in Scotch Whisky maturation. Instead, almost all whisky is put into casks that have previously held other beverages, usually Bourbon or Sherry. New wood tends to stamp its inherent flavours into the whisky in a definitive way. Can we expect this to be a battle between peat reek and coconut? Natural colour.