Infrequent Flyers

This expression from Balmenach Distillery has been matured for 12 years with a secondary maturation in an ex Moulis-en-Medoc red wine Hogshead, resulting in a lovely sweet, desserty and fruity dram.

On the nose there are aromas of yellow fleshed stonefruits, rum and raisin fudge and sweet almond praline. To taste, there are notes of toast with plum jam, burned brown sugar, pecan pie with vanilla ice cream and hints of allspice

This expression from Bowmore distillery showcases the unique style of old Islay whisky, with a delicate balance between rich, sweet and smoky notes. Bottled after 25 years in a refill barrel, yielding 280 bottles, the nose opens up with  earthy and herbal aromas, followed by sweet scents of toasted macaroons and rum baba layered over Bowmore's signature sweet peat. Sweet, tangy fruit notes of cranberries and peaches combine with spicy cinnamon and cracked pepper notes on the palate, followed with hints of soft peat and bog myrtle. After a quarter of a century in the same refill barrel, the distillery character  is very much to the fore.

This single cask offering from Braeval distillery in Speyside has been matured for fourteen years, with a two year finish in a single Oloroso puncheon. Aromas of sugared macadamia nuts, stewed sultanas and a dusting of cocoa waft out of the glass, followed by lashings of toasted desiccated coconut. The palate is sweet, slightly dry, with hints of nuttiness. Dark chocolate coated walnuts combine with demerara sugar, dates and chewy caramels with an undercurrent of allspice and cloves.  

This fifteen year old single cask offering from Glen Spey distillery has undergone a three year secondary maturation in a single Ruby Port hogshead, delivering rich fruity and gentle spice tones. The nose opens up with lovely red wine notes, alongside tangy fruity notes of cranberry juice and peaches, followed by hints of chewy strawberry sweets. The intense fruitiness brought forward by the Port cask continues on through the palate, with dried apricots, rhubarb crumble and juicy blood orange. Sweet notes of slivered almonds and rich Highland toffee balance perfectly with the vibrant fruity tones, complimented by dashes of spice lingering on the back of the palate. 

A well aged single grain from Infrequent Flyers, this expression from Invergordon has been matured for 35 years, with a finish in a dark rum barrel, bringing forward tropical sweet notes.

There are the textbook solventy sweet notes on the nose, joined with slight  floral tones and rich vanilla and molasses, showing clear cask influence. The cask shows further influence on the palate, with notes of coconut ice cream, fresh vanilla, overripe fruits, thick molasses and chocolate truffles. 

from Jura distillery, this expression has been matured for 30 years before undertaking a finish in an American virgin Oak Barrel, bringing vibrant spice and sweetness to this coastal dram.

There are notes of toasted oak, creamy vanilla along with cereal grain sweetness and crumbly buttery shortbread on the nose. The palate is intense and mouth- coating, with notes of dessicated coconut, rich marzipan and honeycomb alongside sweet spice and honey coated peanut brittle.

This expression from Miltonduff has been matured for 11 years before undergoing a finish in a ex Oloroso Puncheon yeilding 651 bottles. 

The nose is initially floral- there are notes of fruity wine gums, ripe strawberries and sweet vanilla fudge. The fruitiness continues on through the palate, joined with a caramelised sweetness. There are notes of cranberry pie, demerara sugar, boozy sultanas and black treacle with a slight ginger spice

This expression from Royal Brackla distillery has been matured for seventeen years, with a four year finish in a refill re-charred Hogshead. Presented at the cask's natural strength of 54.1%, this bottling showcases wonderful balance between distillate and cask influence.  The nose opens up with a complex mix of benzaldehyde and toasted oak, which dissipate allowing for aromas of sweet, salted popcorn and hints of rum and raisin fudge to waft through. The Palate displays a harmonious balance of distillate character and cask influence. There are soft and creamy notes of coconut ice cream and mellow vanilla custard notes intertwining with soft spicy tones of nutmeg and ginger.

This single grain expression from Strathclyde distillery in the Lowlands has been matured for nine years in an ex red wine hogshead. This expression is a textbook example of a single grain whisky. Sweet solventy aromas rush out of the glass, alongside an aldehylic burst of toasted coconut, battenburg cake alongside floral perfumy notes. The palate is vibrant and full of vigour, with slivered almonds, marzipan and cherry bakewells coating the palate, followed by cask forward notes of raisins, apricots and cranberries. Touches of pepper and demerara sugar linger on through the finish.

This single cask bottling from Strathmill distillery has been slowly maturing for sixteen years, with just over two years of secondary maturation in a Pedro Ximenez Hogshead yielding 341. The nose on this dram is very dark and rich, with intense notes of fruit and nut chocolate dipped in rum, and very boozy trifle. The palate is heavy, rich and viscous, there are classic PX notes of muscovado sugar, stewed sultanas and gentle sweet spice, alongside pan-au-chocolate, praline and cinnamon scrolls coated with glaze.

This single cask offering from Tamdhu distillery has been matured for ten years, with three years in a Pedro Ximenez puncheon. Rather funky on the nose, there are earthy aromas to begin, alongside tangy balsamic notes, the fruit arrives later, with aromas of raisins, apricots and baked apples wafting up from the glass. The cask influence makes itself immediately known on the palate. Super sweet, beginning with demerara sugar, creme brulee and molten dark toffee sauce, followed with rich honeycomb alongside semi-sweet dark chocolate and marinated sultanas, finishing with spicy cinnamon and nutmeg notes

This expression from Tomintoul distillery has been finished in an ex Rye Whiskey cask bringing forward pronounced spiciness 

On the nose there are notes of lemon meringue pie and fizzy citrus sherbert, custard cream biscuits and hazelnut praline.  The rye cask shows of its influence on the palate, with bold and intense spiciness. There are also notes of honey soaked nougat and zesty alcohol infused lemon sorbet.

This expression, bottled by Alistair Walker hails from an undisclosed distillery from the Isle of Islay. Matured for 16 years, with a finish in a single Ruby Port Hogshead, bringing sweet, sticky fruity and spicy notes to an otherwise phenolic dram.

The nose offers notes of soft peat, a humidor full of cigars, freshly ground black pepper and raw ginger along with rain soaked hot asphalt. The phenolic character continues through to the palate, married with juicy peach, apricot and blood orange notes and a bold spicy finish. 

This expression was distilled at an unknown distillery on Orkney before being matured for 24 years with a secondary maturation in a Moscatel Hogshead.

On the nose there are aromas of torched almond praline, rum and raisin fudge and fluffy Belgian waffles. To taste there are notes of creamy caramel fudge, stewed sultanas, and popcorn with toffee caramel sauce.