Ledaig is one of my all-time favourites, and I’m delighted to have another one to offer!

The nose has tarry peat smoke, vats of sea water, black treacle, barbecued lemons, BBQ sauce, waxed jackets and smoked almonds. The palate feels weighty and lively at the same time – salty and peaty, with lemon and lime syrup, shellfish stock, miso caramel, Fisherman’s Friends and langoustines on the barby. The finish is long, clean and very coastal.

These noughties Ledaig batches are just impeccable spirit, and here it’s been matured for a decent time in a cask that’s done nothing more than add a thread of sweetness and allow some complexity to develop.

This bourbon hogshead produced only 239 bottles at a cask strength of 56.3%.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

Ledaig is one of my all-time favourites, and I’m delighted to have another one to offer!

The nose has tarry peat smoke, vats of sea water, black treacle, barbecued lemons, BBQ sauce, waxed jackets and smoked almonds. The palate feels weighty and lively at the same time – salty and peaty, with lemon and lime syrup, shellfish stock, miso caramel, Fisherman’s Friends and langoustines on the barby. The finish is long, clean and very coastal.

These noughties Ledaig batches are just impeccable spirit, and here it’s been matured for a decent time in a cask that’s done nothing more than add a thread of sweetness and allow some complexity to develop.

This bourbon hogshead produced only 239 bottles at a cask strength of 56.3%.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

Ripe orchard fruits drenched in honey vie with vanilla, caramel and a subtle oak spice. The palate tells a tale of complexity and refinement: stewed apples and peaches, softened by the sweet caress of Sauternes, dance with ginger warmth and a hint of nutmeg. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving echoes of sweet fruit and luscious honey.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

The nose opens with white sugars sprinkled atop a warm, homemade shortbread. Split vanilla pods reveal their seeds, intertwining with a gentle breeze of orchard freshness. Tasting reveals a note of green apple and pear, adding a crisp edge to the creamy texture. A sprinkle of white pepper introduces a medium finish, where the initial sweetness gently recedes, leaving behind a hint of floral honey.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

Stewed peaches and apricots lead the charge on the nose of this delightful whisky, with a rich undercurrent of dried fruits and butterscotch. After this initial impression, the Marsala cask’s influence radiantly shines through, with dates, prunes and creme brulee apparent. The finish is elegantly long with a sweetness reminiscent of caramelised nuts and fried roses.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

A rare treat: well-aged peated Knockdhu!

The nose has nectarine, tinned mandarin segments, custard creams, and honey granola, backed up by smouldering charcoal, tinctures, and an elusively savoury smoke. The palate is sweet, creamy and really quite peaty, with malted vanilla shake, lemon meringue pie and big clouds of peat smoke. The finish is long and chewy, with touches of herbs, liquorice, honey, and medicinal notes.

This is fabulous stuff – very much in the same vein as things in the Ledaig or Laphroaig area, but with its own distinct smoky/creamy thing going on.

This hogshead produced only 179 bottles at a cask strength of 58.9% .

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

After bottling a couple of excellent ex-bourbon Mannochmores it feels like time for one fully matured in oloroso!

The nose is proper old-school sherry, with leather jacket, golden syrup, black cherry, armagnac prunes, rose petals and coal tar. The palate is thick and creamy, with cherry cola, nutmeg, hazelnut and orange cake, sultanas, liquorice and stem ginger.

Lovely deep sherried goodness here, with the distillery character shining through, and the dark fruits a particular delight.

This first-fill oloroso butt produced 424 bottles at a cask strength of 54.7%.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

The Cotswolds Distillery was started in 2014 by founder & CEO Daniel Szor. Native to New York but a career in finance in London set Daniel up to follow his passion of whisky and build a brand-new distillery in the heart of the Cotswolds near his home. A commitment to traditional methods and high-quality raw ingredients means that all the barley used to make their whisky has been grown in the Cotswolds.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of dry, nutty Oloroso Sherry initially rise from the glass, building into dates, prunes and figs, before a little time to breathe reveals orchard fruits and a fresh floral side. The palate is pleasingly chewy, moving in waves from Sherry wood to green apples, honeycomb, and Victoria sponge. A long, lingering finish shows baking spice, prunes and a little citrus.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

You’ve got to have something from Islay for Christmas! The nose is very distinctly Bruichladdich, with seashore, baled hay, mineral oil and tangerine peel. I also find milk bottle sweets, apricot, melon and sweet lime as it breathes in the glass. The palate has a lovely texture, with candied lemon, salted butter, apricot jam, waxes and oils. With a bit of water it’s even better, with citrus, stone fruits, camphor and minerals in perfect balance.

A lovely cask of one of the most distinctive distillates out there, and unmistakeably Islay even without any peat.

This first-fill bourbon barrel produced 229 bottles at a cask strength of 57.9%.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.

This is a mystery peated Highland single malt, rumoured to be from a rather well-known distillery…

The nose has a complex aromatic fruitiness (orange, fig leaf, mango, Juicy Fruit) with savoury smoke (soy sauce, liquorice and sage, BBQ) drifting beneath. The palate is sweet, lightly syrupy in texture, and smokier than the nose, with papaya, lemon, salty green olives, black treacle bacon and a lingering and slightly medicinal peat smoke.

It’s the balance of a rather lush fruitiness with a sweet/savoury smoke that really makes this one. It made me think of old Caol Ila and Laphroaig at points, which can’t be a bad thing!

This refill barrel produced 267 bottles at a cask strength of 54.0%.

* Please note that alcoholic beverages are not for sale to people under 18 years of age. By ordering alcoholic beverages online, you declare that you are 18 years old or above. Please drink responsibly.