Wm. Cadenhead's

One of the few Highland producers who use peated malt, this 11 year old Cadenhead selection comes from the Ardmore disitllery. A rich aroma of smoked rhubarb, Turkish delight and smoky bacon crisps lead the nose, with a contrasting sweet stewed fruityness on the palate. Strawberries and cherries join flavours of black forrest gateau and a lingering peaty tang in the finish.

Made from peated barley, this 10 year old Bunnahabhain from Cadenhead shows the sweet, salty and savoury character of the distillery's 'Staoisha' peated spirit. The nose opens with crispy smoky bacon, moving to smoky fish soup (Cullen skink) and lashings of peat. The finish has a minty, herbal twist, remaining coastal to the end.

Founded in 1842, Wm. Cadenhead are Scotland's oldest independent whisky bottlers, who are also renowned for their rum selections. The Cadenhead 'Classic' rum is a blend from distilleries in the Caribbean, bottled from a selection of casks and reduced to 50% ABV. The nose starts immediately rich, with molasses, demerara sugar and asian spices. The palate is very full and rounded, starting sweet before building to a spicy and slightly phenolic (rubbery, hot tarmac) note. For the rum purists, this has no added sugar content of any sort.

It is very rare for us to see independently bottled Irish whiskey in New Zealand so we're delighted to have this expression bottled by Wm. Cadenhead of Campbltown, Scotland. Drawn from an undisclosed distillery, it has the classic Irish single malt whiskey character with soft, sweet, fruity flavours (pears) and a wonderful creaminess.

As Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead's warehouses are home to some casks whose history is not precisely known, even to themselves, and this latest 'Enigma' release is one such example.  Matured in refill sherry butts, this is a blend of single malt and grain whiskies, aged together for 25 long years. A sweet, toffee and fudge-filled aroma leads in to walnuts and raisins, with strawberry sauce and tart sherbert to finish things off.

Seven Stars is created by blending together carefully selected casks from the vast array of stock lying in Cadenhead’s warehouses. On the nose there are notes of strawberries and cream along with sweet buttery apple crumble. The palate moves towards a lighter note of citrus peel, raw cane sugar and ginger-nut biscuits, moving towards a sweet, zesty and slightly hoppy finish. 

A new release under the Enigma series, this cask strength, undisclosed peated Highland single malt has a smoky, savoury start. Notes of bacon-flavoured chips and peaty embers come through before sweeter notes of banana and vanilla custard. A thick and syrupy mouthfeel carries candle smoke and flinty notes, finishing on grated nutmeg.

This undisclosed single malt from Cadenhead's 'Enigma' range has been matured for 16 years in an ex-Manzanilla sherry cask. The nose opens with red cola, sandalwood and notes of old dunnage floor warehouses or a damp cellar. To taste, a burst of bacon crisps, chorizo and salted caramel popcorn. To finish, dark chocolate, tangerines and a mineral quality like pebbles on the beach.

Cadenhead's Old Raj Gin is distinctive in that it contains a measure of saffron, the rare and costly spice derived from the crocus flower. In addition to a slightly spicy flavour, this also imparts a pale yellow colour to Old Raj. Rich and clean, with a lovely oily mouthfeel, this gin has flavours of zesty lemon, indian spices and a hint of aniseed.

Cadenhead's Old Raj Gin is distinctive in that it contains a measure of saffron, the rare and costly spice derived from the crocus flower. In addition to a slightly spicy flavour, this also imparts a pale yellow colour to Old Raj. This expression, bottled at 55%, is one of the few high strength gins on the market, fantastic in a gin & tonic but is also particularly well suited to classic cocktails such as a martini.

Produced at the little-known Epris distillery in Brazil, this 12 year old selection bottled by Wm. Cadenhead of Scotland at a high strength of 51.4%. The aroma is earthy and woody, with coffee, spices and raisins. On the palate, richly spiced again with herbal nettle and agave notes, joining dried apricots, finishing again on herbaceous tones of tarragon, basil and fennel.

Produced at one of the most acclaimed rum distilleries in the world, this 16 year old hails from Foursquare on the island of Barbados. Wonderfully funky to start, with a meaty and burnt sugar tone, joining barbeqcued bananas and honeysuckle. Root ginger and rye bread-like spicyness add heat, finishing with toasted marshmallow and hints of tangerine.

Offering the classic Speyside style, this 16 year Glen Moray selection from Cadenhead was fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels. An expressive and aromatic dram bursting with aromatic fresh fruits and plenty of ripe, pan-fried bananas. Fruity and fresh, there is a flavour of warm vanilla sponge and creme brulee throughout, finishing slightly musty, with cocoa powder and freshly ground cinnamon on pastries.

A rare example of independently bottled Glenglassaugh, chosen by the team at Cadenhead from several ex-bourbon casks, matured for 8 years. To start, there are lots of green and cooked apple notes, with strudel dolloped with home-made vanilla ice cream. Waxy honeycomb notes carry through on the palate, gently spiced and biscuity in the finish.

Glenlossie is a bit of a team favourite here at WG, and this bottling has been matured in re-charred Bourbon barrels and is light and fruity through and through. The nose is vibrant and refreshing with notes of zesty citrus, moving to sweet raisins covered in chocolate. The sweetness piles on the palate with creamy vanilla custard and marzipan. Finally, delicate creme brûlée, light pear drops and lemon fondant send this lovely light dram on its way.

14 years old, this Glentauchers-Glenlivet bottled by Cadenhead has been matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. With pear drops, peaches, treacle and a touch of nutmeg on the nose, we've landed in Scotland for pudding on a winters night. Flavours of pouched pears and vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate flakes come alive on the palate. The finish is a wee glass of mulled wine, rich and warming with orange slices, crushed cloves and dark chocolate.

This brand-new Inchgower from Cadenhead has spent the final part of its 14 years of maturation in a most unusual type of cask: ex-PX sherry butts that previously held Springbank. The cask influence has imparted a delicate, peaty, musty and earthy quality not normally found in Inchgower. A rich, stewed raisin and warm toffee flavour builds to a nutty quality of honey roasted cashews, salted caramel and a delicate whiff of peat.

Distilled at an undisclosed rum producer in Jamaica, this 13 year old rum was produced in pot still, offering the heavier side of the regional style. Notes of orange peel and lime lead the nose, with a distinctive note of burnt banana, new leather and other estery notes.

Matured initially in ex-bourbon barrels before a final mature period in ex-Oloroso butts, this Knockdhu is a festive treat with orange marzipan, gingerbread and jammy flavours. Spicy and sweet like a slice of gingerbread, there is a note of cola cubes and milk chocolate - distinctive notes from sherry casks.

Matured for a total of 10 years, this very dark Linkwood spent its final 2 years in ex-Oloroso sherry casks, evident in its very dark and deep colour. This rich wood influence has produced notes of blackcurrant, raspberries and cherries, following cola and savoury nuttyness. A weighty and wood-driven example of Linkwood.

Matured for 15 years, this Miltonduff was distilled in 2008 and bottled by Wm. Cadenhead. This small parcel of casks has abundance of sweet, fruity notes, some highlights include crisp red apples, honey butter and a hint of cedar wood to round things off. Creamy, coconutty and waxy to finish, the American oak barrels used to mature this Miltonduff have left their distinctive influence on this dram.

Distilled an an undisclosed producer in Panama, this 17 years old rum was bottled by Wm. Cadenhead of Campbeltown, Scotland. Distilled in 2006, this expression carries a very sweet natural profile (no added sugar), with rhubarb crumble and candyfloss-like flavours. A creamy butterscotch and butter icing flavour, continues into the confectionery-forward finish, with icing sugar and fizzy orange drink.

Though Royal Brackla was the first distillery in Scotland to be issued a Royal Warrant, it remains little-known to most. This is a fine example of the style, light, delicate and vibrantly aromatic. A burst of grape, pink grapefruit and orange peel leads the aroma, moving to a rich flavour of manuka honey drizzled over raisins. There is a sensation of saltyness on the edges of the palate, a contribution from the ex-Fino sherry cask.

Bottled by Scotland's oldest independent bottler, this 17 year old rum is a rare first for us, hailing from an undisclosed distillery in Spain. Distilled in 2007, the flavour opens with sticky treacle toffee, liquorice, and pine needles, moving to seville oranges and citrus rind. To finish, crystallized ginger and warming nutmeg.