Campbeltown single malts are rather dry and gentle smoky. The proximity to the coast proffers a salty character. One can imagine a cross between the Western Highlands and the Lowlands, with a little salinity. There are now just three whisky distilleries in Campbeltown.
The 10 year old from the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown, a mixture of both bourbon and sherry matured whisky.
£28.95
A very rare decanter bottle of Springback from way back when. The bottle is labelled "26 2/3 fl oz", this is a 12 year old from the Campbeltown based distillery, it has a little ceramic miniature decanter too.
£249.95
The Highlands is a broad appellation, though the whiskies tend to be full in body. The Highlands is divided into four regions; Northern Highland whiskies are full, cereal sweet and rich; Southern Highland whiskies are slightly lighter with dryness and fruit; Eastern Highland whiskies are full, dry and very fruity; Western Highland whiskies are full and pungent with plenty of peat and smoke.
The most recent release of Brora rare, cask strength 30 year old. John Hansell even rated this a whopping 95 points! This is a muscular, powerful dram.
£244.95
A rare, 30 year old cask strength dram from Brora. The Brora distillery has since been closed and is now used as a warehouse and visitor centre by adjacent distillery, Clynelish.
£299.95
The Islands is a diverse region, though the single malts are usually rather rich. Smoke is a recurring theme, as is balance and richness. There is often a good peat, salinity and counteracting cereal sweetness. There are no hard and fast rules for the Islands, for the terroir and production methods differ greatly between distilleries.
A classic Island dram from the Isle of Skye. Always highly rated, this was an Editor's Choice at Whisky Magazine. Lots of spice and fresh, tangy peat.
£29.95
The entry level bottling from Scotland's most northerly distillery, Highland Park, aged for 12 years with plenty of citrus and green notes.
£25.95
Single malts from Islay tend to be the most pungent and peaty of all Scotch whiskies. This is particularly true to the south of the isle, where peat smoke is rife, as is tar and salinity. Further north there is not quite the peaty intensity; instead there is often plenty of fruit and refinement. There is always a good degree of balance, wherever one is on the isle.
Uigeadail derives from the Scotch Gaelic for 'Dark and Mysterious Place' and is named for the Loch from whence Ardbeg draws its waters. Jim Murray's 2009 World Whisky of the Year, this cask-strength bottle exudes breathtaking balance.
£43.95
Jim Murray's 2008 World Whisky of the Year! When Ardbeg 10 was released it was the first expression from the distillery not to be chill-filtered. It's a true classic from Islay, and a must have for any fan of single malt whisky.
£32.95
Whiskies from the Lowlands tend to be light and gentle. The single malts are usually quite dry. Peat is very rarely used. The single malts are soft and delicate and triple distillation is practiced, indeed it is for this that the region is known. There is very little salinity and plenty of floral notes and balanced fruit.
Production at Bladnoch with Raymond Armstrong at the helm began in 2000. Since then several young whiskies have been released, with spirit totally produced since his ownership. Dew is a particularly enjoyable new make.
£14.95
Released in 2009, this 8 year old was created entirely since the Raymond Armstrong ownership of Bladnoch began. It offers great character!
£34.95
Blended whisky is Scotland’s best-selling spirit. A Scotch blend is made up of both malt and grain whisky. The grain whisky is easy to produce, it being distilled in a column still. It is a little more neutral in taste, thus the malt whisky is added for flavour and body. Currently, blended whisky accounts for 90% of Scotland’s whisky production.
Synonymous with the premium whisky blend. Blue Label is the rarest whisky in the Johnnie Walker stable.
£139.95
A blended Scotch whisky, this celebrates the famed Black Watch. A formidable fighting force, known for their bag pipes (as depicted on the label).
£13.95
Speyside proffers the lighter, sweeter drams. Body is brought with age and some of the heavily sherried, well-aged Speyside single malts are particularly full. The lighter, younger whiskies can be rather delightful with superb balance. The sweetness is often honeyed and delicate and peat is rarely used, nor are the drams particularly salty. Speyside whiskies are rarely finished in exotic wood.
A 10 year old from the Macallan matured in sherry casks. Macallan uses only Golden Promise barley, and actually use up 90% of the annual crop of Golden Promise in Scotland!
£25.95
The entry level bottling from the illustrious Glenlivet distillery at Speyside's heart, aged for 12 years. The archetypal Speyside dram, honey and orchard fruit driven.
£24.95