Whiskies from the 2000's

Filled from a single ex-sherry butt, again showing a relatively mild wood influence, this Bunnahabhain is very typical of its style, waxy, fruity and nutty. With flavours of of roasted nut & fruit mix, there is also the classic note of beeswax and honeycomb coming through. There is a creamyness to the palate, with fruit leather and a drying, salty minerality - a classic unpeated Bunnahabhain from the northern reaches of Islay.

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.

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.

Filled from a refill ex-sherry butt, the pale straw colour of this Teaninich shows the wood influence has been very gentle over 13 years. As is typical for this style, the barley really sings - nutty, malty, with hints of buttery pastry and warm, yeasty bread dough. A nutty, very oily quality is present throughout, with cooked apple then a twist of all sorts of woody herbs. An excellent example of the cask giving way to let the distillate truly shine.

Situated in Carron in Strathspey, Dailuaine makes a weighty spirit which favours a robust wood profile, such as this 13 year old ex-sherry cask from bottlers Hunter Laing & Co. A rich, fruit-forward flavour of raisins joins notes of plum crumble drizzled with honey. The finish is oak-spiced and lingering with black tea tannins.

This Linkwood, bottled from a single Oloroso butt is a perfect winter warmer dram. There are notes of warm apple cider and zesty citrus on the nose, before notes of sweet toasted oak, and sweet honey join on the palate, the sweetness continues on towards the end of the palate, with a rather malty finish.

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.

This expression was distilled at an unknown Lowland distillery in 2007, before being laid down in a small batch of five first fill ex Bourbon barrels. While the distillery is rather secret, the use of wormtubs gives a rather good hint as to the orgins of this spirit. On the nose there are floral aromas of honeysuckle, taragon and rose petal water. Hints of sweet spice and custard creams. The palate is buttery with touches of lemon oil and notes of black pepper on fresh Scottish Strawberries, with an elegant finish of buttermillk and a lick of spice

This single cask expression hails from the coastal gem that is Pulteney distillery, distilled in 2002 and matured for twenty one years in a single refill barrel, it was released to commemorate the launch of the Ardnahoe Single Malt. Notes of juicy apples, rich sticky toffee and meadow flowers waft from the glass as notes of golden syrup, cherries and creamy vanilla dance across the palate, with the sweetness lingering on towards the finish.

Croftengea is a style of whisky, distlled at Loch Lomond distillery using peated barley and Loch Lomond's Inchmurrin stills, the reduced copper contact results in am earthy smoky spirit with delicate spiced and soft fruity tones. This expression was distilled in 2005 and matured for 18 years in a single Hogshead cask yielding 171 bottles. On the nose there are notes of ginger, milk chocolate, smoked butter and charred mackerel skins. BBQ sauce and boiled sweets open up on the palate, with a dense and creamy texture. Flavours of garam masala, tumeric, ground cumin and maple syrup introduce themselves later. The spice dissipates on the finish, while choclate and cream notes linger on.

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 single cask expression from Glenburgie distillery in Speyside was distilled in 2007 and bottled at natural cask strength after sixteen years of maturation in a single refill butt. The nose opens up with a cornucopia of fresh fruits, apricots, peaches and strawberries galore! The fruitiness continues on through the palate, however transitions to more dried fruits such as raisins and dried apples, rich sweet notes of honey and vanilla intertwine with the fruitiness wonderfully leading to a lingering finish of white pepper.

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. 

Hailing from an undisclosed distillery from Scotland's far Northern Orkney Islands. This punchy Oloroso cask matured Orchadian starts off with a huff and puff of coastal turfy peat smoke, much more than one would expect from this distillery. wafts of heather, leather and hot coals emerge on the nose. The palate showcases the sherry wood influence wonderfully, with rich boozy fruits and soft sweet spice balancing perfectly with the thick coal smoke and lighter notes of sticky honey and burned lime. the sooty peat continues on through the finish, combined with waves of sherried fruit and honey.

This bottling of single cask Glen Ord makes up part of Berry Bro's and Rudd's Glens and Valleys collection. Itwas distilled in 2007 and matured for sixteen years in a Hogshead cask, with and outturn of just 261 bottles. The nose of this Highland gem begins with a stroll though an autumnal orchard, with vibrant juicy fruits and earthy tones of roasted chestnuts. Dark cherries, plums and toasted nuts coat the palate creating a rich and elegant mouthfeel with a long and lingering finish of sweet spiced oak.

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 in 2008 at the Inchgower distillery on the north east coast of Scotland, this 15 year old offers a light and summery style of whisky, with flavours of banana, berries and apple fruityness being developed after years of slow maturation. A buttery note of shortbread joins peppery spice to finish.

This 15 year old Inchgower was finished in a rarer type of sherry cask, Amontillado, for a period of 21 months, this is a lush example of the distillery style, with syrupy fruit-salad qualities and treacle. With the tropical fruityness there is also treacle and a drying nutty pistachio note.

This single cask bottling from an unknown distillery hailing from the Orkney Isles has been matured for seventeen years, with a three year secondary maturation in a first fill Oloroso Hogshead. Aromas of buttered popcorn and toffee caramels greet the nose, with notes of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and piled high with berries coating the palate, with the faintest touch of signature heathery peat rounding out the finish.

A very special release from GlenAllachie distillery, this expression has been bottled from a fourteen year old single ex Sauternes Barrique specially selected by Billy Walker himself. The colour is a lovely amber gold and vibrant sweet notes of Honeysuckle, butterscotch and orange zest leap out of the glass, with hints of peaches, mocha and cinnamon spice developing with time in the glass. The vibrant sweet notes continue on through the palate, with juicy apricots, manuka honey and rich moreish chocolate cake coating the palate, followed by gentle cinnamon spice and walnuts with notes of mocha and white grapes on the finish. 

This single cask expression from Duncan Taylor was distilled at an unknown Islay distillery in 2007, and matured for sixteen years before being bottled at the cask's natural strength of 54.4%, this whisky offers classic Islay bonfire smoke, lemon zest, notes of vanilla fudge and hints of cracked pepper.

This single cask expression was distilled at Glentauchers distillery in Speyside, and matured for 15 years with a nine month finish in a single Octave. The resulting out turn was just 82 bottles. Presented at cask strength (53.5%), this expression offers gentle sherry tones, alongside butterscotch, pomme puree, caramelised sugars and rich boozy fruitcake.

This bottling of Craigellachie was selected by Hunter Laing & Co from a single ex Sherry Butt that had been slowly maturing for sixteen years. Vibrant wafts of honey, chocolate and freshly cut straw greet the nose, while the palate is sweet and rich, with notes of juicy berries, creamy, rich vanilla and peaches, transitioning to a long and satisfyingly spicy 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.