THE SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING LAPHROAIG

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Pittyvaich has an exceptional single malt from the 'ghost' distillery of Pittyvaich at its heart. Pittyvaich closed its doors in 1993 after just 18 years of life. Though short in life, Pittyvaich left a distinct and growing legacy. This hidden gem is now gently spoken about the world over for its unique Speyside style.

Sweet fruit notes if fresh apple gather with the distinct autumnal flavours of Pittyvaich, beautifully balanced with the delicate subtle sweetness of honeycomb and soft wood from the 'ghost ' whiskies of Port Dundas and Carsebridge. Other very rare whiskies from a quartet of Speyside distilleries including Mannochmore, Auchroisk, Cragganmore and Strathmill alongside the Highland whisky of Royal Lochnagar, bring aromas of dark fruit and berries before easing into gentle butterscotch, stewing orchard fruits and a dash of cinnamon, all combining to create an exploration of this rarely seen 'ghost' whisky. In total this special blend consists of whisky from Pittyvaich and 7 other rare whiskies.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare releases are a series of limited editions that explore the rich flavours and distinctive distillery character of selected whiskies from the Johnnie Walker Blue Label reserves. Each release offer a fleeting opportunity to savour the depth of character of whiskies from 'ghost' distilleries that have long since closed, but whose spirit still lives on in the precious liquid captured in every bottle.

THE TIDES HAVE TURNED

Matured in a slightly higher proportion of Oloroso Sherry casks, this sublime 19 year old whisky is the epitome of an aged Ardbeg. Part of a highly sought-after and collectable Ardbeg series, Batch 4 is the latest expression. This sublime Traigh Bhan, like the bottles before it, inspired by Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach (pronounced tri-van).

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan masterfully performs the impossible – balancing the lull and crescendo of its intense flavours. Bottled under a full moon, the tides have turned for this rare spirit as more mentholic, herbal notes rush the senses, with intense smoke left behind in its peaty wake.

If you’re an Ardbeg Committee Member and you want to ensure easy ordering of this rare Ardbeg, please check your Committee account has registered phone numbers in both the Billing and Delivery sections.

Dewar’s brings together Scotland and France for this fruit forward flavour experience, bringing together the vibrant flavors that embody both countries. Dewar’s French Smooth is an 8-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky finished in Apple Spirit (Calvados) Casks and is the fifth in an innovative cask series. This rich and full-bodied whisky brings this unique finishing process to the double aged Dewar’s blend for the first time, creating an approachable and smooth whisky with a difference.

FLAVOUR NOTE: Apple, Cinnamon, Citrus

Spicy and luxurious

The mature, deep, spicy one: a deeper Sherry influence adds more spiciness and a liquorice tang. Greater age adds body and develops the distinctive fruitiness to a rich raisin character.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Auburn gold

Nose: Rich and complex notes of toffee and butterscotch combine with ripe peach and bitter orange

Palate: Perfect structure. Initial notes of soft apricot and cream are offset by developing flavours of blackcurrant jam and sweet oak with a touch of honey

Finish: Very long and balanced, progresses from crème brûlée to a gentle oak flourish

Experience the exceptional Aberlour 21 Year Old 1999, a true gem among Speyside single malts. This distinguished whisky is the product of 21 years of patient maturation, resulting in a captivating and sophisticated flavor profile.

Immerse yourself in the rich amber hues and aromatic bouquet of Aberlour 21 Year Old. Indulge in the tantalizing scents of dried fruits, spices, and oak, inviting you into a world of indulgence. On the palate, savor the harmonious blend of sherry influences, warm spices, dark chocolate, and the subtle sweetness of vanilla and honey.

Crafted with meticulous care and expertise, Aberlour 21 Year Old 1999 showcases the artistry of whisky-making. The carefully selected oak casks and the masterful blending techniques contribute to its unparalleled depth and complexity.

For whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike, Aberlour 21 Year Old 1999 is a true treasure worth cherishing. Share it on special occasions or indulge in solitary moments of reflection.

Embrace the remarkable Aberlour 21 Year Old 1999 Speyside Single Malt Scotch and unlock a world of extraordinary flavors and refinement. Cheers to the art of whisky and the pleasure of savoring the extraordinary.

Note: Please enjoy Aberlour 21 Year Old 1999 responsibly. Must be of legal drinking age to purchase.

Weeks of tweaking led us to this combination of tropically fruity malt whiskies from the Glen Elgin and Speyburn distilleries, together with whiskies influenced by Oloroso Sherry casks. Single malt from the Ardmore Distillery lends a herbal Highland peat note.

This is sure to delight fans of warm and vibrant whiskies, whether synaesthetic or not. Though 2019 feels a very long time ago, we are delighted to finally share Mannie’s vision of delicious whisky with the world.

What does a colour taste like?

The Circle is our international bartender competition; it serves as a kind of symposium in which the bar world and whiskymakers can come together to share ideas. ‘Is it possible to make a whisky that evokes the colour of coral?’ was the idea Mannie Monaghan, 2019’s winner, posed to us.

It wasn’t until after Mannie Monaghan won our international bartender programme The Circle in 2019, and we began working on a whisky together, that we learned he is synaesthetic. Mannie wanted his whisky to evoke a particular colour – coral – and so began a unique whisky-making project.

Affecting roughly 4% of the population, those with synaesthesia often experience a blending of their senses – for Mannie, aromas and flavours reveal a spectrum of colour. Not being synaesthetic ourselves, Mannie spent two lengthy sessions in the Blending Rooms, scouring sample boxes for whiskies that matched the warmth and powerful positivity of Living Coral.

FLAVOUR PROFILE (FOR NON-SYNAESTHETES)

We love the bright pineapple and stewed peach aromas that leap out of the glass. The flavour is of vanilla, honey and sultanas soaked in Cognac.

Introducing the newest Cask Exploration edition of our heavily peated Islay single malt, the Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011 demonstrates the versatility of our soft, barbeque smokey Scotch in the highest quality French oak casks. Two parcels of Scottish barley distilled spirit have matured for a minimum of six years in ex-American oak casks before being transferred to red wine casks from the Gironde left bank, north of Bordeaux. Bottled at 56.1% abv, this spirit showcases stunning spice and fruit notes. It is a rich and elegant, undeniably Islay single malt.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Lots of fresh, fruit aromas mingle with the dry peat smoke to entice you into the dram; from the oak comes spices – cloves, ginger and cassia, along with chocolate, toasted malt with toffee, brown sugar and delicate coconut and vanilla notes. As you nose again, the fruit notes of both the spirit and the wood come together – melon and citrus from the spirit and dried plums and raisin from the cask. The earthy peat smoke wraps around the fruit and spice and holds everything together, highlighting the wonderful marine and ozone notes that breeze through the dram.

PALATE: As the first drop touches your tongue, a wave of flavours sweep across the palate, the sweetness from the oak and malt lead, followed by the smoke, citrus and dried fruit notes. Another sip helps to order the flavours, and you find the oak notes, the dried fruit, marzipan and spice. Caramel and chocolate notes emerge alongside the peat smoke with its earthy richness. A little water opens the citrus fruit and marine elements and brings out a little more of the coconut and vanilla notes from the oak. The structure on the palate is firm and round and balances the depth of flavour of this whisky.

FINISH: The peat smoke comes through on the finish with a more medicinal phenol style. Coconut and floral notes waver, and a saline marine element combines with the earthy smoke in the classic Port Charlotte style. The oak’s softness and the minerality of the spirit become wrapped in smoke, a familiar signature to this dram.

CHARACTER: The depth of the oak and the harmony it creates with the smoke define this Port Charlotte cask edition’s character. Muscular and round in texture and flavour, yet with a typically dry, earthy smoke and marine breeze style, Port Charlotte.

COLOUR: Ruby.

Ultramarine is inspired by an iconic deluxe blended Scotch, in particular the first bottlings of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Harnessing old school Sherry
casks and ethereal peatiness, Ultramarine highlights the enchanting possibilities, and the breadth of flavours and textures, afforded by combinations of aged malt and grain whiskies.

Powerfully flavoursome and impressively textural, the first release in the Extinct Blends Quartet relies on mature malts from the Caol Ila and Glendullan distilleries; aged grains from the Cameronbridge and Girvan distilleries, as well as a medley of pre-blended stocks.

Welcome to our flavour time machine

Bottles of Scotch whisky are time capsules. Even more than single malts, blends can reflect the production methods and philosophies that prevailed in Scotland during specific eras. Scotch is constantly evolving, and blends aggregate these trends and adaptations.

Fashions change, and formulae follow suit. Blended whiskies of the 1970s, '80s and '90s are very different to today’s versions, even when the brand name remains the same. The Extinct Blends Quartet reimagines four of our favourite blended Scotches from yesteryear, using some of our rarest and most idiosyncratic stocks of whisky.

FLAVOUR PROFILE

Toffee, antique polished oak and complex peatiness are primary aromas, with a palate of roasted pecan, raisins and smoke.

Octomore 13.3 demonstrates the phenomenal force of flavour when combining super-heavy peat with the variable harvests gathered from the island of Islay, raised by friend and farmer James Brown on one singular farm.

Octomore 13.3 is distilled from barley grown on Islay, on one singular farm and demonstrates the phenomenal force of flavour when combining super-heavy peat with the variable harvests gathered from the island of Islay. This release is matured in a foundational parcel of first fill ex-American whiskey barrels and a supplementary selection of second fill European oak casks, hailing from the Rivesaltes region of France and the Ribera del Duero region of Spain.

Working with Islay barley is always a privilege. The ability to present it in a single estate, single vintage, single malt is perhaps even more poetic. From year to year, Head Distiller Adam Hannett works with the base spirit bestowed upon him by the grower, together with natural factors; the changing climate and weather system, agronomic yield and the terroir of the field itself. The European oak gives more subtle structure to the spirit, while the American oak allows the spirit to take centre stage. Expect vanilla and brown sugar, counterbalanced with fresh and round green fruit notes. The smoke is, as ever, gentle and dry, building to a long finish with hints of creosote and sea spray.

TASTING NOTES

CHARACTER: An Islay whisky through and through, the provenance of this Octomore expression is unrivalled. The complex flavour of the soil that raised the barley and the classic peat smoke define this whisky's character, speaking of the place it is from.

COLOUR: Barley straw

PALATE: A soft and delicate on the palate, sweet honey and brown sugar give way to a whisper of peat smoke. The second sip brings lemon rind and seashells, a delicate marine hint along with malty biscuit notes and marzipan and coconut. The peat smoke has hints of boot polish and ash but is gentle enough to allow the subtle floral malty notes to shine.

FINISH: The marine character develops and the smoke increases on the palate, honey and lemon with warm sand and marzipan. Final fruity traces of peach and stewed pears bring a little sweetness to the finish.

All Octomore .1 editions are distilled from 100% Scottish barley. They are primarily aged only in ex-American oak, in varying percentages of either ex-bourbon or ex-Tennessee whiskey casks. Acting as the backbone of each new series, Octomore's .1 releases demonstrate the raw character of the clean Octomore spirit, balanced with the modest ex-American whiskey influence - and offer a necessary comparison from which the other expressions alternate. After five aged years in first fill ex-American oak casks, our Head Distiller has offered a unique twist in this 13.1, having gathered and recasked the spirit in 2021 into yet more fresh, first fill ex-American oak casks. This final injection of flavour, taken from the interaction between the spirit and the oak, offers additional flavours of dark toffee, coconut and vanilla. This single malt is a testament to the trust our head distiller, Adam Hannett, has in the quality of his ingredients. Without more than patience and an understanding of how the flavours will evolve, this single malt perfectly personifies the courage of Octomore as a concept.

Octomore 13.1 is as youthful and dynamic as its super-heavily peated predecessors. Distilled patiently from the 2015 harvest of 100% Scottish Mainland barley, this single malt is malted to a stratospheric 137.3 PPM and matured in the highest quality American oak casks. All Octomore .1 editions are distilled from 100% Scottish barley. They are primarily aged only in ex-American oak, in varying percentages of either ex-bourbon or ex-Tennessee whiskey casks. Acting as the backbone of each new series, Octomore's .1 releases demonstrate the raw character of the clean Octomore spirit, balanced with the modest ex-American whiskey influence - and offer a necessary comparison from which the other expressions alternate. After five aged years in first fill ex-American oak casks, our Head Distiller has offered a unique twist in this 13.1, having gathered and recasked the spirit in 2021 into yet more fresh, first fill ex-American oak casks. This final injection of flavour, taken from the interaction between the spirit and the oak, offers additional flavours of dark toffee, coconut and vanilla. This single malt is a testament to the trust our head distiller, Adam Hannett, has in the quality of his ingredients. Without more than patience and an understanding of how the flavours will evolve, this single malt perfectly personifies the courage of Octomore as a concept.

TASTING NOTES

CHARACTER: Synonyms with the classic Octomore .1 style. Hidden peat smoke allows the floral, malty spirit and the sweet American oak to combine in perfect harmony, before dry, earthy smoke sweeps across the palate.

COLOUR: Golden Hebridean sands

NOSE: Initial impressions are of sweet nutty smoke, loaded with barley sugar and ripe fruit. Syrupy apricot and ripe pear along with malty vanilla notes of barley flour and Crème Brulee, honey and tablet. The American oak brings coconut, almonds and charred oak. The peat smoke is delicate but powerful and, along with the charred oak, brings out boot polish, leather and earthy notes.

PALATE: A viscous texture across the palate, the feeling is of densely smoked grain which comes through like smoked granola with honeyed fruit. A second sip brings the opportunity to decipher the complexity on the palate, with smoked apricot jam, barley flour, peat embers and burnt heather balanced with gooseberry citrus and sweet Turkish delight. Oak chips, sugared almonds and chocolate-limes with spicy aniseed comes toward the finish. A drop of water intensifies the smoke and brings out the minerality of the whisky.

FINISH: On the finish the sweetness fades and an earthy, mossy note remains on the palate wrapped in dry heathery peat smoke. Salty-citrus and floral notes of geranium and rose come through calmly to round off another wonderful expression of the Octomore paradox.

There is a saying that “Good Things Come in Threes”. “The rule of three” (or if Latin is preferred “omne trium perfectum” suggests things that come in threes are inherently more humorous, satisfying and effective than any other number of things. There is no better illustration of this than in the new release from Lagavulin and Nick Offerman.

Nick is a lover of all things wood, Lagavulin and steak. By combining these three passions, a most delectable and exceptional whisky is born. Introducing Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Charred Oak Cask. This 11 year old Single malt Scotch Whisky has been aged in heavily charred ex-bourbon and ex-red wine casks creating the perfect whisky to accompany any medium-rare steak. With hints of vanilla, red berries, sea salt brine and Lagavulin’s signature smore, this whisky not only shines on its own, but highlights and accentuates those perfect steak flavours.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Peaty, chocolate, treacle, with some red berry notes. A little bit of creaminess comes through, without taking over.

PALATE: Pungent, peaty, woody and spicy, cocoa. Sweet berry notes. Chocolatey and warming on the palate.

FINISH: Warm, lingering, spicy, sensational.

AWARDS: San Francisco World Spirits Competition DOUBLE GOLD 2022

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded in 1821 by William Smith, on the outskirts of Thurso in Caithness, Scotland. The distillery took its name from the watercourse it drew from, burn being the Scottish word for stream or small river. As Smith invested heavily in the distillery, it became a significant enterprise for the region tax records for the 19th century show it was the largest producer of malt Whisky in Caithness. The distillery was kept in the Smith family until at least the 1850s, when records become scarce and it's estimated that production began to cease (a survey map from 1972 depicts the distillery in ruin). After 150 years of neglect, a group of private investors stumbled upon the old Wolfburn Distillery in May, 2011 seeing massive potential, the investor began to rebuild the distillery from the ground up. The new Wolfburn Distillery, which, by law, must use water sourced from the same steam used centuries ago, is crafting unpeated malt Whisky from a blank canvas through old-fashioned pot-still distillation; no automation, no rush and a lot of care. Master Distiller Shane Fraser, formerly of Glenfarclas, says, My very first thoughts on what kind of spirit Wolfburn should be were that it should be a light and fragrant spirit. This would come about by a number of key processes; slow drainage of the mash tun to give a clear wort; long fermentations and a gentle distillation but keeping the spirit collection above 20C. When I first nosed the spirit I was very pleased and surprised at just how well it had turned out. Wolfburn Single malt aurora is mellow and golds, smooth and warming (producer). Aged in a combination of American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks that together create a beautifully smooth, perfectly balanced Whisky. Inspired by the ethereal northern lights phenomena, Wolfburn's Aurora received 92 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2017.

About the Brand

Behind every great brand is a great story. Perhaps that’s the most important lesson we have learned from my many years creating new drinks. We can certainly think of no better story or figurehead for a Scotch Whisky than my ancestor, Mr. Gladstone, and his Axes.

Mr. Gladstone signed the spirits act of 1860 allowing the blending of scotch for the first time – essentially creating the scotch whisky industry that we know today. Known as “THE GRAND OLD MAN” his passion and pastime were felling trees with his trusty collection of axes - people from around the country would come to watch him chopping trees.

Through his progressive ideology, he was instrumental in driving out corruption and passing new laws for the people.

Every batch of Gladstone Axe American Oak is made from 100% malted barley and aged in American oak barrels that were previously used for bourbon production. Aging our scotch whisky in ex-bourbon barrels imparts mellow sweet notes to the blend of malt whiskies that compose this one-of-a-kind scotch. Gladstone Axe American Oak is made from a selection of malt whiskies from 14 different Highland and Islay malt distilleries.

Bottled straight from the cask, without adding water to reduce alcohol content, delivers the extraordinary depth, complexity and balance of flavours that’s now the established hallmark of our Cask Strength series. Release No. 3 is no exception.

This third release has been created using an expertly balanced combination of three cask types – first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a smaller quantity of refill casks for balance and depth. Using a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt, our Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, has achieved an intensely smoky character, coming through first on the nose with aromas of smouldering peat and lightly charred oak, balanced by honey-glazed lemons and crushed aniseed.

Discover what best suits your palate by experimenting with the amount of water you add as you release this whisky’s distinctive notes of ripe mango, cloudy heather honey and whipped vanilla cream with a hint of aromatic violet. Pink grapefruit zest, freshly-baked sponge cake and a final gust of heathery peat smoke provide a long and distinctive finish.

We’ve been crafting our award-winning whisky at the Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney, since 1798. Age, experience and respect for tradition may define our whisky, but it’s Orkney that sets it apart. Something magic happens here and the result is the wild harmony of flavours found in our whisky.

THE HARMONY COLLECTION INSPIRED BY INTENSE ARABICA

The second edition in our limited annual release series, this special single malt exudes flavours of sweet oak, tiramisu and dark chocolate, and provides a delightful whisky and coffee pairing experience.

ABV : 44% | VOLUME : 70CL

DESCRIPTION

The second release in the limited annual series continues to draw inspiration from our deep rooted connection to the natural world. Each release in the collection unveils distinctive packaging that incorporates organic by-products and gives them new life.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Inspired by Intense Arabica will be available via The Macallan Online Boutique and in premium retailers, bars and restaurants around the world from October 2022.

A SENSORY JOURNEY

This special single malt is inspired by the Ethiopian Arabica bean. Ethiopia is claimed to be the birthplace of coffee as the Arabica bean was the first species of coffee to be cultivated. ​​ 

With a distinct coffee flavour, this whisky exudes notes of espresso, dark chocolate and sweet oak. The intensely flavoured single malt invites you to immerse yourself in a sensory journey through flavour and aroma.

A richly honeyed Cardhu with lush, tropically sweet, rum cask-rounded flavours and peppery wood-spice, which combine to create a vibrant taste of paradise. Light on its feet, lush and sweet while also lively and fresh, with a surprisingly spicy, peppery finish, so making an especially exotic apéritif malt.

TASTING NOTES

APPEARANCE: Clear gold.​

BODY: Light to medium.​

NOSE: Beguiling first impressions begin with the fresh, sweet fruitiness of lemon zest and white grape enriched by exotic notes of pink grapefruit and ripe mango, all on a faintly mossy base, a note that evolves into freshly ironed linen. A notably spicy and woody note soars high above. A drop of water dries these aromas and introduces a pinch of white pepper.​

PALATE: A creamy-smooth and full texture, the taste erupting with sweet flavour. Tingling on the tongue, the fruity and malty sweetness behind this suggesting home- made rum toffee and more exotic hints of spiced pineapple and green banana, made more appetising still by spicy and drying, bracingly crisp, clean oak. A dash of water creates a delightful and even smoother texture, still strong in peppery spice.

A rarely seen, regal whisky still in the prime ​ of its years, with a rich, sweet nature lightly influenced by long years in cask, and a ​ spicy, peppery finish that comes as a ​ pleasing surprise. Urbane yet determined; sweet and smooth on the surface, but with hot spices bubbling away beneath; quite delicious.

TASTING NOTES

APPEARANCE: Gleaming gold with amber lights.​

BODY: Medium.​

NOSE: Subtly spiced cereal hints and sweetness entwine to suggest ripe tropical mango, papaya, and peapods. Rising through this, traces of hard toffee and light, sustained shavings of oak hint at the spicy intensity on the palate. A splash of water reveals notes of cinnamon bun and salted toffee. Later, these fade appealingly to scented beeswax​.​

PALATE: Silky and smooth-flowing in texture with an intense butterscotch-sweet taste, which mellows into rich caramel toffee. A balancing spicy-dry, oaky intensity appears mid- palate. Adding water softens the honeyed sweetness to creamy-smooth Swiss milk chocolate, with just a little salt mid-palate. Gentle spice now holds the sweetness in check.​​

FINISH: Short and quite intense, with considerable warming chili spice. With water sweeter, the spice reduced.​​​

Mannochmore is brought to life by the hound illustration. This is a fantastic example of this enigmatic distillery with an exciting house style that is fruity and fresh. Flavours of apple, tropical fruit and crème brûlée combine to create a sophisticated crowd-pleasing single cask, single malt. Matured in hogsheads to enhance the fruity house style of this Speyside distillery. Mannochmore has warehouses capable of storing more than 250,000 casks of maturing spirit. The distillery has its own dark grains processing plant, converting draft and pot ale into animal feed. The first official single malt was only released in 1992.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Ripe pear, honeydew melon, fine oak flavour. Ripened strawberries mixed with white grapes. Obvious aromas of pear, honey, herb garden.

Palate: Mango and pear storms forward followed by oak flavour. Very full-oily mouthfeel, the strawberry grape comes back, oily-crisp. A little forest honey. Candle wax mouthfeel. Green fruit. The finish is long. With water added - less of that toasted oak notes, bright green exotic fruit salad, fresh bread, very buttery.

Finish: An elegant expression from Mannochmore, even at 55% the honey-pear-mango essence with the most pleasant toasted oak notes. Fruit salad, long – medium finish very slightly astringent, spicy oak, fresh mint, creamy banana.