From the sixth century to the mid-nineteenth century, scotch whisky was largely unknown outside of Scotland and England. There was no whisky industry as such, and each laird probably had a still that supplied neighbours and a little outside trade. No doubt, the Scotch Whisky of those years was harsh and smoky, imbued with the taste of peat (a kind of pre-coal consisting of partially carbonized vegetable matter, largely heather, formed in bogs).
In 1853, Andrew Usher began to blend Scotch whisky for sale. Britannia then ruled the world, or at least much of it, and the demand for a taste of home far exceeded any supply the malt distilleries could provide. He mixed malt spirit with grain whisky and produced a lighter, less expensive, more consistent, and significantly larger supply of whisky. Usher also used a vastly more efficient continuous or patent still instead of the old fashioned pot still.
There are four regions of whisky production in Scotland....The Lowlands located in the south, just below Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although most Lowlands scotch whisky goes into blends, the single malts are light, delicate, fruity, and lack the smoke of peat and smack of sea that characterise their cousins to the north.... Campbeltown This region is located on a peninsula on the west coast. only two operating distilleries remain, but one , Springbank, is thought to be among Scotland's best. The sea exerts a strong influence on Campbeltown's Scotch Whisky...Islay this island just north of Campbeltown commands a view of Northern Ireland.
Eight distilleries make single malts here that are known for their heft and pungency, their strong flavours of peat, smoke, seaweed, and brine. The Scotch Whisky Laphroaig and Ardberg, can be unbelievable.....The Highlands being the largest district is home to the majority of distilleries. It includes cities such as Aberdeen and Perth and stretches north to the Orkney Islands. As a single malt producer, it deserves to be segmented more precisely, as a single malt producer they are full of flavours of peat, and on the coasts, the sea.
It is thought to be the finest area in Scotland - and thus the world - for creating Scotch Whisky. A web of rivers, including the Spey, Avon, Findhorn, Fiddich, and Livet, carrying pure waters from springs and lochs, crisscross the region. As noted each provenance also comes in a number of ages. Bladnoch (Lowlands), Bowmore (Islay), Clynelish (Northern Highlands), Cragannmore (Speyside), Dalwhinnie (Central Highlands), Deanston (Southern Highlands), Glenfarcas (Speyside), Glenlivet (Speyside), Glenmorangie (Northern Highlands), Highland Park (Orkney Island), Isle of Jura (Jura Island), Longmorn (Speyside), The Macallan (Speyside), Oban (Western Highlands), Springbank (Campbeltown), Talisker (Skye Island), and Tobermory (Mull Island). This is a small sampling offer of a broad range of style and regions, and do not forget the traditional Scot's toast is pronounced SHLAN-jer.Slainte!
Glenmorangie 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky Bright, pale-amber colour.The fragrance is delicate, sophisticated and clean The key notes are floral, rather than cereal, mandarin and vanilla, with a light smokiness. Note the feel of the spirit as it slides over your tongue, creamy but not cloying, clean and slightly dry to the back of the palate The flavour is well-balanced, no single feature dominates There are smoke and peat on the tongue, the florals and fruit have evolved into honey and oak, complexed by nutty characters Some may identify intriguing notes of fennel, spice and bergamot The overall effect is fresh, aromatic, and refined The finish is clean and salving, with mouth watering aftertastes of mandarin and almonds
Glenmorangie 18 Malt Year Old Scotch Whisky has a deep gold colour Rich, rounded and sweet bouquet of dried fruits and complex florals Primary aromas of nutty, caramel crème brulee, vanilla followed by hints of walnut, honeycomb and dates Complex florals emerge, identifiably geranium, jasmine and narcissus The mouthfeel is silky The palate is beautifully balanced between the flavours of honey, malt and more florals, followed by the nut-like characters of Oloroso sherry, hazelnuts and walnuts. Dates and figs emerge in the background as Glenmorangie moves towards it's close, culminating in a pleasant and lingering finish with just a hint of wood and of smoke
Glenmorangie 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is an extremely rare and delectable single malt of notable age and intense, full bodied flavour.The rarest and oldest member of the Glenmorangie family, this is a single malt of notable class and intensity. Full bodied and sumptuous, the Glenmorangie 25 Years Old is the real embodiment of our continued dedication to perfection. Matured in a range of casks including American white oak, Oloroso sherry casks and French Burgundy casks before being blended back together in exact quantities, the Glenmorangie Quarter Century is complex, bursting with deep flavours, and a perfect testimony to our knowledge and experience. Glenmorangie 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is a wonderful marriage of highlands , Islands and Islay. Well made. great balance,and the interplay between peat smoke and fruit is lovely.
Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1991 has a weighty and rich cumin powder, sweet orange peel (and pulp), bitter chocolate torte. Water melts the chocolate and orange together. Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1991 has a very dense and fungal palate, suggesting maturity. Lightly smoked with tannins and a citric/marmalade fruitiness. Balanced and complex. Finish: Long, soft and raisined. Comment: Big and powerful but with sufficient character to cope. A delightful Glenrothes from the 1991 vintage, bottled in 2007. Clean vanilla'd oak on the nose, with hints of leather - then deliciously smooth and sweet on the palate. Ronnie Cox, Glenrothes' legendary director, proclaims this as an intellectual conversation starter.
Glenrothes Scotch 1989 Scotch Whisky was originally released from 1997 through to 1998, 1985 was popular from the start for its aromatic spicyness. The distillery challenged Malt Master John Ramsay to do his magic and to locate more stocks. Ramsay acquired casks in the possession of Berry Bros & Rudd, and batches held by Edrington, the whole married in Spanish oak butts The result is a small quantity of a wondrous, smooth, oak vanilla dram, the latest addition to the very rare selections of the 1980s. Vintage 1985 was bottled up smartly, and released to rave reviews at Christmas 2005 Glenrothes Scotch 1989 Scotch Whisky vintage is a set of casks that have been handpicked by the Malt Master from a particular year’s distillation and judged to be at the peak of all possible perfection These are rare. Vintage selections account for little more than 2% of the distillery’s production capacity Many a year Glenrothes is as always, a top class dram, a Vintage Malt however is not released annually Maybe there is not enough stock, or maybe the available casks do not meet the exacting standards, or maybe, the character is not sufficiently individual Unlike Malt Whiskies that are produced in line with the age concept, each Vintage must have its own unique personality Appearance is golden, clear and bright. Bouquets that are rich and fruity, raisins and sultanas A palate that is soft and smooth, perceptible oakyness, vanilla nad more sultanas Figures of crystallised ginger, tremendous freshness for its age. Good length, a medium sweet finish A Malt in extremely short supply, very limited quantities are ever released, another classic vintage that is slowly becoming extinct
Glenrothes Select Reserve Speyside Single Malt traditionally from specific vintages, so this no-age-statement example raised a few eyebrows when it first appeared. However, the only thing recent batches have raised is the bar - this is tremendous easy-drinking Speyside.
Grants Scotch Whisky is a masterful blend of only the finest single malt and grain whiskies, each matured in oak casks The blend is then finished in first-fill American whiskey casks for a further six months Grants Scotch Whisky imparts an extra flavour layer, resulting in a complex whisky where individual tastes fit together perfectly to create a full-bodied Scotch of exceptional richness
Grants Scotch Whisky is a masterful blend of only the finest single malt and grain whiskies, each matured in oak casks The blend is then finished in first-fill American whiskey casks for a further six months Grants Scotch Whisky imparts an extra flavour layer, resulting in a complex whisky where individual tastes fit together perfectly to create a full-bodied Scotch of exceptional richness
A union of two Jura malt whisky styles: one bold, strong and peated, the other warm and delicate. Superstition is a unique whisky created from the marriage of traditional Islay style peated barley and a selection of aged malts. The present Jura distillery was built between 1960-63 by Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith (in partnership with Scottish & Newcastle's blending company Charles Mackinlay & Co.) on the grounds of a previous distillery (also called Jura) that had been founded in 1810 but closed and dismantled in 1901. The new distillery's architect was William Delmé-Evans, who had previously been involved with Tullibardine and later went on to build Glenallachie. Delmé-Evans was most involved with Jura, however, remaining on the board until his retirement in 1975.
Isle of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a very accessible, easy-drinking malt. Medium-bodied with a delicate sweet palate, with a hint of brine developing on the finish. A great introductory malt.
From the sixth century to the mid-nineteenth century, scotch whisky was largely unknown outside of Scotland and England. There was no whisky industry as such, and each laird probably had a still that supplied neighbours and a little outside trade. No doubt, the Scotch Whisky of those years was harsh and smoky, imbued with the taste of peat (a kind of pre-coal consisting of partially carbonized vegetable matter, largely heather, formed in bogs).
