Islay whiskies are known for their peatiness, although not all the distilleries on the island produce this style - Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain have little or no peat in their standard expressions and Caol Ila produce an unpeated batch every year, while even the famously smoky Ardbeg has an unpeated expression, Blasda. Read More »
A first for Kilchoman - a whisky distilled and matured on Islay as usual, but also only using grain grown on the island. It's only a 3 year old but has a lot to it, as we've come to expect from Kilchoman.
The 12th release of 12 year old Lagavulin from Diageo's Special Releases range. A perennial favourite, balancing price against a punchy cask strength edition of whisky from one of Islay's most mysterious distilleries.
Finished in Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes casks, this has all the expected Bruichladdich characteristics - seaspray, brine, floral notes - with a deliciously smooth extra veneer of sweetness. A deservedly popular 'Laddie.
A cracking dram from the great man, Jim McEwan. Fresh and subtle, with vanilla flavours from the Bourbon casks, fresh exotic fruit and a well-rounded maltiness.
An excellent Bruichladdich, this 3D3 was produced as a tribute to the well-loved Islay peat-cutter Norrie Campbell, who passed away in 2006. 3D3 contains three malts - Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore - at three different ages, and is the most heavily-peated of the 3D releases.
Caol Ila Cask Strength is a whisky capable of bringing joy to the most jaded peathead - we love its strong, lemony, sooty saltiness. Great on its own or in hardcore whisky cocktails.
A wonderfully fresh, minerally Caol Ila bottled by TWE from a single ex-bourbon cask. Lots of sea air, seaweed and seashells make this the olfactory equivalent of a picnic on the beach. A big hit at 2012's TWE Whisky Show.
Laphroaig 18yo was introduced in 2009 as a replacement for the old 15 year-old (Prince Chuck's sorely missed favourite whisky, lest we forget). This is a stronger, altogether gutsier affair at 48%.
A special edition gift pack from Bowmore, combining their sherried 15 year old 'Darkest' whisky with a pair of interesting shaped tumblers and a wooden stopper, to top your bottle with a bit more class than a regular cork.
A 1995 vintage Bowmore bottled by the folks at Adelphi. Matured for 16 years in cask #8 and bottled at full cask strength. Looking at the number of bottles and the colour, we're guessing this might be from a refill sherry butt.
Port Askaig is terrific Islay single malt bottled by our sister company Speciality Drinks. This 17 year-old has a sumptuous balance of smoke, citrus and sweetness - dangerously more-ish for the Islay fans among us.
X4 is Bruichladdich's quadruple-distilled experimental revival of usquebaugh-baul, the 'perilous spirit'. Having come off the stills at around 90%, this much-discussed distillate has now reached three years of age and can be called whisky. Bottled at an eye-watering 63.5%.
A limited edition of 3000 bottles of the award-winning Laphroaig 18 year old, released in Summer 2012 in a special commemorative tube celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Laphroaig are donating £3000 from the sales of this bottle to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust which helps young craftsmen.