Q-Z

The Sändebud is a pioneerring fusion of single cask whiskies from Scotland and Sweden, created in honour of Scottish Lawyer turned merchant, Colin Campbell who moved to Sweden in 1731, where he co-founded the Swedish East India Trading Company. A world first, bottled at cask strength, this whisky is a fusion of peated and unpeated malt, creating a wonderfully balanced, characterful dram.

Adelphi's Private stock is a blend of whiskies selected by one of Scotland's most famed independent bottlers. This is a smooth dram with plenty of honeyed sweetness from Spey and Highland malts, a touch of sea-side maritime notes from a coastal distillery and a gentle peat-fire smokyness in the background. A very traditional and old-fashioned flavoured blend that belongs in any whisky drinker's cupboard.

As one of the highlights of their 30th anniversary releases, this Adelphi selection comes from a 26 year old cask from the Bowmore distillery on Islay. This is an archetype of Bowmore of this age and vintage - an exquisite mixture of complex fruits, savoury tones and a perfectly integrated peat smoke.

Colour: Ruby-tinged amber.

Nose:, Umami-rich mushroom, rancio-style Madeira, Worcestershire sauce, truffle, decomposing wood, aged parmesan, old book, venison jus, eucalyptus, aged balsamic, Saint Nectaire cheese, juniper.

Palate: Stock cube, sweet celery, Bovril, poutine, hawthornberry, smoked Old Fashioned, leather armchair, cigar ash.

Finish: Integrated and subtle peat smoke, endless complexity.

An incredibly rare sight these days, this late 90's Bunnahabhain was chosen from a single refill ex-Oloroso sherry Gorda cask. Adelphi's tasting notes describe a very dense and rich whisky, laden with notes of sultanas, dried figs, quince, dark chocolate and intense fruit loaf. To taste, star anise and tobacco leaf, with caramel and salt cutting through. Waves of chocolate and caramel join intense umami savoury notes of oyster sauce and Chinese black vinegar.

Bottled from a first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead, this is a decidedly savoury example of Caol Ila, with notes of a dirti martini, gherkin and capers showing up, facinating characteristics from the wood. There is a tangy note of gooseberry, then a building salty profile of salted lemon, fish oil and even some dijon mustard.

A rare find for rum enthusiasts, the legendary Caroni from Trinidad, this single cask, cask strength expression was bottled by Adelphi from a refill hogshead cask. Adelphi's notes describe a rum of incredible complexity: notes ranging from aged Riesling, fresh ginger, rhum baba joining 'old automobile' and even a suggestion of petrol. The palate offers bitter chocolate, wood shavings and mint, with Turkish delight and bramble fruit.

Drawn from a refill bourbon hogshead from the Miltonduff distillery, this special single cask bottling matured for four decades before reaching the peak of its maturation. A sensational and defining example of wood influence and spirit in harmony.

 Nose: Oxidised and fusty apple, orchard floor, bruised fruit, Calvados, homemade apple crumble, Chantilly cream, lilac, eau de vie, winegums, sandalwood, perfumed wood, peony, lime zest, lime cordial, elderflower cordial, grated lime zest in cream, almond flour.  

Palate: Tangerines, cream soda, balanced sweetness, apple blossom honey, posh vanilla ice cream, red grapefruit pith, tangy, mint, herbal note, coriander, walnut, lime pickle.  

Finish: Velvety, delicate, elegant.   

After 33 years of maturation in refill ex-bourbon hogshead cask, Adelphi have bottled this whisky at the peak of its maturation, with an expressive aroma and flavour of rich tropical fruit character, spices from the bazaar and exotic woods. Papaya, ripe mango and candied grapefruit notes give a feeling of livelyness uncommon of a whisky of this age. The shades of fruit and spices are carried on a richly mouth-coating texture, lingering flinty and mineralic. Adelphi's selection from the Mortlach distillery are legendary - this example is one of many reasons why.

Over the years, Adelphi's selection of single grain whiskies such as this one from North British have been exceptional. Matured in an refill ex-bourbon barrel for 36 years, this is a highly aromatic and perfumed example of the style - creaming soda, sponge fingers and coconut macaroons leap out of the glass. With nutty notes of biscotti and Frangelico, it turns towards a sweet and intense flavour of pineapple, vanilla ice cream and limoncello. Bright, delicate and vividly evocative.

Sm?gen distillery was founded in 2009 in Sweden, with this single cask laid down in 2013. Matured in an first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, Adelphi's tasting notes describe an intriguing combination of notes, from wet barley, hessian sack, gunpowder and even cow sheds. There is a character of tobacco leaf, oily grain and Szechuan peppercorn, with flinty and fusty notes throughout. The finish is vivid, long and rich.

Our first ever expression from the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery, situated Filey in England. Bottled from a first-fill ex-Moscatel cask, Adelphi describe a whisky of great contrast - bright lavendar notes join Dr. Pepper, cherry cola and a myriad of candied flavours. A figgy and savoury (fish sauce) then herbal quality emerges on the palate and finish.

Hailing from the remote eastern coast of Hokkaido in Japan, this is the first ever expression from the distillery that we have had on the shelves. Founded in 2016, Akkeshi's style is heavily influenced by its founders love for the Lagavulin distillery on Islay in Scotland. This first-fill ex-bourbon barrel offers notes of malt biscuit, green mezcal and intriguing notes of tomato vine. The palate shows a tone of mesquite, ham hock and billowing smokyness, finishing long and briny.